After their qualification for the 2026 World Cup, the Congolese national football team, the Leopards, were heroically welcomed on Sunday, April 5, 2026, at the Palais du Peuple in Kinshasa, by President Félix Tshisekedi.
The Leopards secured a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup following an intercontinental playoff final held in Guadalajara, Mexico on Tuesday, 31 March 2026, where they won 1-0 against Jamaica.
President Félix Tshisekedi announced national recognition measures for the Leopards, including the awarding of a house and a vehicle to each player.
The Sundays’ reception resonates as a symbolic act of national recognition towards the entire team, whose talent and performance have elevated the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and brought the country back to the competition 52 years later.
After the celebrations, President Tshisekedi organized an official dinner at the African Union City, where he handed over the keys of the Toyota Land Cruiser 300 VXR vehicles.
“You have talent and the ability to overcome any challenges that come your way. Make us proud again to be Congolese and to count among the best teams in Africa by having a great World Cup. That is all we ask of you,” declared Félix Tshisekedi.
The FIFA 2026 World Cup will take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026, in 16 host cities across Canada, the United States, and Mexico. It will be the first edition to feature 48 teams.
