Group K fixtures
Wed 17 Jun18:00 BST
NRG Stadium, Houston
Wed 24 Jun03:00 BST
Estadio Akron, Guadalajara
Sun 28 Jun00:30 BST
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Key players to watch
Chancel Mbemba
CB · Lille · C
Captain, leader and record cap-holder (107); a vastly experienced defender whose career rebuilt from Newcastle to Porto, Marseille and Lille.
Captain · defender
Yoane Wissa
FW · Newcastle United
The main attacking weapon; pace, movement and Premier League know-how make him one of Africa's more dangerous forwards.
Lead forward
Cédric Bakambu
FW · Real Betis
Experienced goalscorer on 21 international goals, just one behind the all-time record; a reliable finisher.
Striker · goals
Aaron Wan-Bissaka
RB · West Ham
Defensively excellent full-back who switched allegiance from England; shores up the right and joins attacks.
Full-back
Axel Tuanzebe
CB · Burnley
Versatile defender and qualifying hero — scored the 100th-minute extra-time goal that beat Jamaica to seal the place.
Playoff hero
Noah Sadiki
MF · Sunderland
Young, composed midfield anchor who screens the defence; a promising base in the engine room.
Midfield anchor
Goals & output
Wissa and Bakambu lead the line, supported by the pace of Théo Bongonda and Meschak Elia. Not a prolific side, but dangerous in transition and from set pieces — and resilient when games tighten.
Set-piece duties
Bakambu is the senior penalty option, with free kicks shared and Wissa or Théo Bongonda delivering corners. With Mbemba and the forwards attacking crosses, set pieces are a useful route to goal.
Discipline read
▲Built on a disciplined, hard-working structure under Desabre; fouls come from protecting a compact shape.
Recent form
Back at the World Cup for the first time since 1974, when the nation competed as Zaire — a 52-year wait. Two-time African champions, the Leopards qualified the hard way: runners-up to Senegal in their CAF group, then wins over Cameroon and Nigeria (4-3 on penalties) in the playoffs, and finally a 1-0 victory over Jamaica in the intercontinental playoff. French coach Sébastien Desabre has built a resilient, European-based unit.
Head-to-head history
v Portugal (17 Jun)
No prior meetings
A first competitive meeting and a daunting opener against the group favourites in Houston.
v Colombia (24 Jun)
No prior meetings
A first meeting; likely a pivotal game in the race to qualify, in Guadalajara.
v Uzbekistan (28 Jun)
No prior meetings
A first meeting and, on paper, the Leopards' best chance of three points, in Atlanta on the final day.
Underdog & betting read
The verdict
A resilient dark horse with a strong defensive spine and several players at good European clubs. They can frustrate and nick results, making them live for a top-two or best-third place. Value to qualify against the odds.