Colombia are through to the FIFA World Cup 2026 last 32 after Daniel Munoz's deflected strike proved the difference in a narrow 1-0 victory over DR Congo at the Estadio Guadalajara on Wednesday.

The South Americans dominated from the first whistle, registering 20 efforts on goal, yet were made to work until the 76th minute before finding a way past an inspired Lionel Mpasi in the DR Congo goal.

Mpasi's heroics delay the inevitable

The DR Congo goalkeeper produced a series of outstanding stops to keep his side in the contest. His most crucial intervention came just after the hour mark, when he spread himself to deny Luis Diaz at close range — only for Arias to waste the rebound by firing wide of an open goal.

Colombia had also been denied in the 6th minute by the offside flag, when Munoz bundled home a rebound after his initial header was parried into the air. The call was correct, but it illustrated how relentlessly the South Americans pressed for the opener.

Munoz makes the breakthrough

The Crystal Palace wing back, who had already scored once in the tournament, finally broke DR Congo's resistance in the 76th minute. After Cordoba held the ball up intelligently on the edge of the box, Munoz drove a shot that took a significant deflection — completely wrong-footing Mpasi and nestling into the net.

Colombia were nearly denied a clean scoreline in the 81st minute when Diaz cut inside and thundered a shot into the far corner, only for the offside flag to correctly rule the effort out.

What this means for Group K

Colombia finish the group stage at the summit of Group K. DR Congo, for their part, are not yet eliminated — they will secure their own place in the last 32 if they beat Uzbekistan on Sunday.

There is also an intriguing knockout-stage possibility taking shape: should DR Congo finish third in their group and England top their own section, Thomas Tuchel's side could face the Central African nation in the last 32.