FIFA Rankings: DRC climbs to 41st globally
Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) climbed to 41st in the latest FIFA world rankings for June 2026.
- This five-place jump also moved the Leopards to 7th in Africa, following their performance in the 2026 World Cup.
- The team aims to maintain competitiveness, build on World Cup experience, and prepare ambitiously for future qualifications.
The Democratic Republic of Congo's national football team, the Leopards, have ascended to 41st place in the June 2026 FIFA world rankings, marking a significant five-position gain from the previous month. This improved standing also sees them rise to 7th place on the African continent. The team's strong performance, which saw them reach the Round of 16 in the 2026 World Cup, is credited for this advancement.
Despite a 2-1 defeat against England in the World Cup, the Leopards exited the tournament "with their heads held high," having pushed the English team to its limits. This performance underscores the team's growing competitiveness on the global stage.
The team's progress highlights the importance of several key objectives: maintaining a competitive edge against other major African nations, leveraging the World Cup experience to solidify their performance levels, and approaching future qualifications with renewed ambition. The full FIFA rankings are available on the official FIFA website.
Originally published by Radio Okapi in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.