BW Arabia Kuwait - DR Congo vs Uzbekistan: World Cup Group K Round 3

Sebastien Desabre's side moved to 3 points and a +1 goal difference after 3 matches, while Fabio Cannavaro's Uzbekistan remained on 0 points with a -9 goal difference from the same number of games. For fans in Kuwait, it was the kind of late-turning match that rewarded close attention, because the scoreline only became decisive after the interval and the final stages.

The first half had already hinted at a competitive edge. Uzbekistan struck first at 10 through a Goal that set the tone for the opening period, but DR Congo had a Disallowed goal at 17 that kept the margin narrow. The home side then had to manage a match that was already carrying discipline issues, with yellow cards shown at 21 and 45, while Uzbekistan collected cautions at 43 and 47. At halftime, the away side led 1-0, and that made the second half feel like a test of control as much as a chase for goals.

That test was answered with patience and late pressure. DR Congo equalised from a Penalty at 68, a moment that changed the rhythm of the match and shifted the burden onto Uzbekistan's 5-4-1 structure. The home side then took command with a Goal at 78 and added another Goal at 90, turning a one-goal deficit into a decisive finish. The final 3-1 score reflected how Sebastien Desabre's team kept pushing after the equaliser, while Fabio Cannavaro's side conceded twice in the closing phase after having led for much of the contest.

Match picture

• DR Congo finished with 4 points, 1 win, 1 draw, 1 loss, 4 goals for and 3 against, a profile that now reads as compact and efficient in World Cup Group K.
• Uzbekistan stayed on 0 points after 3 matches, with 2 goals for and 11 against, a record that leaves the side needing a response from Fabio Cannavaro's 5-4-1 approach.
• The venue, Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, hosted 68,239 spectators, and the crowd saw the match swing after the break rather than settle early.
• Yoane Wissa was named player of the match for DR Congo, a recognition that fitted a home performance which finished with goals at 68, 78 and 90.

The table context adds more substance to the result. DR Congo sit 3rd with 4 points, while Uzbekistan are 4th with 0 points, and the gap between the leaders and the team in second is 2 points, with Colombia on 7 points and Portugal on 5. That makes the next rounds in World Cup Group K Round 3 matter even more for both sides, because the margin for recovery is already thin for Uzbekistan and the pressure remains on DR Congo to build on a positive return from 3 matches. For readers in Kuwait, the appeal is straightforward: a match that combined a clear finish, a tense first hour and a table that still leaves movement possible.

In Kuwait, where followers of international football often track late score changes closely, this was one of those evenings where the final quarter of an hour changed the story completely.

The final score leaves DR Congo with 4 points from 3 matches and Uzbekistan still searching for their first point in World Cup Group K Round 3.

World Cup Group K, Round 3 will place DR Congo and Uzbekistan under pressure for very different reasons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on 2026-06-27. DR Congo will arrive in 2nd place with 1 point from 1 match and a goal difference of 0, while Uzbekistan will be 4th with 0 points from 1 match and a goal difference of -2. For supporters in Kuwait, that contrast gives the fixture a clear edge: DR Congo will be protecting a foothold near the top, while Uzbekistan will be trying to stop the group from slipping further away on this date.

DR Congo's opening numbers will show why Sebastien Desabre's side can approach this with a degree of calm, but not comfort. They will have drawn 1 and lost none, with 1 goal scored and 1 conceded, a profile that suggests a team capable of staying in games and keeping its structure intact. Uzbekistan, managed by Fabio Cannavaro, will come in after 1 defeat in 1 outing, with 1 goal scored and 3 conceded. That difference in defensive balance, expressed through 0 defeats for DR Congo and a -2 goal difference for Uzbekistan, will frame much of the conversation before kickoff in Atlanta.

The second-place gap will add another layer of urgency. DR Congo will be only 2 points behind leader Colombia, with Colombia on 3 points and DR Congo on 1, so the margin at the top of the section will still be recoverable. That position will give the home side a clear incentive to build on a steady start rather than chase the match early. Uzbekistan, sitting on 0 points in 4th, will need a response that narrows the table immediately. For readers in Kuwait following the group closely, this is the sort of Round 3 contest that can reshape expectations without requiring any dramatic language beyond the numbers already on the board.

As a tactical picture, the contrast will be straightforward enough to read from the standings and records. DR Congo will bring 1 draw from 1 match, while Uzbekistan will bring 1 defeat from 1, and those figures will suggest a different rhythm of confidence. A side with 1 point and no loss can usually keep its shape for longer stretches, especially when the reward is 2nd place rather than a chase from 4th. Uzbekistan's task, by contrast, will be to turn a difficult opening into something more stable. In a group where every point matters, the team on 0 will need to show greater control in the same stadium where DR Congo will look to preserve its place near the top.

• DR Congo will enter from 2nd place with 1 point, 1 goal scored and 1 conceded, which will make balance a central theme.
• Uzbekistan will arrive in 4th place with 0 points, 1 goal scored and 3 conceded, leaving little room for another slow start.
• Colombia's 3 points will leave DR Congo 2 points behind the leader, so the table will still be tight enough to reward a strong result in Atlanta.
• For Kuwait-based readers, the fixture will be easy to track on 2026-06-27 because the stakes will be simple: DR Congo protecting position, Uzbekistan trying to restart.

In coaching terms, Sebastien Desabre will take a side that has already shown it can stay level in a 1-match sample, while Fabio Cannavaro will need to solve a team that has already been forced to absorb 3 goals in its opening outing. Those records will not decide the match on their own, but they will shape the tone of the evening at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. DR Congo's 0 goal difference will at least signal a platform, whereas Uzbekistan's -2 will underline how much sharper the response must be. That is why the contest will feel less like a free-flowing showcase and more like a test of control, patience and recovery.

For fans in Kuwait, the appeal will lie in watching whether DR Congo can use its 2nd-place platform to hold the line, or whether Uzbekistan can turn 4th place and 0 points into a statement of resilience. The group remains close enough for one result to matter immediately, and the figures from the first match already make that plain.