ZAPOPAN, Mexico — A historic 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup inter-continental playoff match delivered a gut-wrenching ending for Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz on March 31, as a 100th-minute set-piece goal pushed the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to a 1-0 extra-time victory and shattered Jamaica’s hopes of returning to the global tournament for the first time since 1998.
After 90 minutes of tight, physical play, neither side could break the deadlock, forcing the winner-takes-all clash into extra time. It was a corner that decided the tie: former Manchester United defender Axel Tuanzebe delivered a cross that found its way into the back of Jamaica’s net, securing DRC’s spot at the 2026 World Cup. This marks the Central African nation’s first World Cup appearance since 1974, when it competed under the former name Zaire.
Jamaica’s road to the final playoff was rocky from the start. The side failed to secure an automatic qualification spot after dropping critical points in the final group match: a home draw against Curacao left them unable to overtake their group leaders. Despite the setback, the Reggae Boyz still claimed a spot in the inter-continental playoff as one of the highest-ranked second-place finishers, and advanced to the final playoff with a semi-final win over Oceania’s New Caledonia last Thursday.
Throughout the 90 minutes of regulation, DRC controlled much of the attacking play, but two would-be goals from star striker Cedric Bakambu were ruled out by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), keeping the score level at 0-0. Jamaican goalkeeper Andre Blake turned in a man-of-the-match performance, making multiple key saves to keep DRC off the board even after the VAR interventions.
While the Reggae Boyz managed to seize control of possession briefly in the opening stages of the second half, and earned three consecutive corner opportunities in that stretch, they were unable to convert any of their chances into a goal. For the majority of the match, Jamaica rarely threatened DRC’s goal, leaving them unable to respond after Tuanzebe’s late extra-time winner.
The match ended with heartbreak for the Jamaican side, with post-match photos showing defeated players reacting to the loss, even as DRC players offered sportsmanlike comfort to their opponents. For DRC, the result ends a 52-year wait for a return to the World Cup, while Jamaica will extend its 28-year absence from the tournament. The game was held at Guadalajara’s Estadio Akron, located in the Jalisco state city of Zapopan.