Muñoz Mejía Late Strike Seals Colombia's Perfect Group K Record
Colombia Lock Up Group K With Late Muñoz Mejía Winner
Daniel Muñoz Mejía's 76th-minute strike did the damage as Colombia controlled their World Cup 2026 destiny on Wednesday, grinding out a 1-0 victory over DR Congo to claim six points from six and top Group K with a game to spare.
Key Moment
For the better part of an hour, Congo DR's defensive shape frustrated Colombia's attacking intent. It took individual quality to break the deadlock. Muñoz Mejía, given space on the right channel, delivered with 14 minutes left — a decisive finish that rewarded Colombia's persistent pressure and confirmed what the standings now make official: this is a Colombian squad built to advance deep. Congo DR pushed hard in the closing stages, earning Monginda Pickel a yellow card in stoppage time, but the Colombian backline held firm.
Context
Colombia arrived carrying genuine momentum, and their form this tournament has been quietly impressive — maximum points through two matches, four goals scored, just one conceded. DR Congo, by contrast, needed a result to keep their Round of 32 hopes alive. They came in with one point from two matches, sitting third in the group, and that reality showed in a cautious approach that ultimately conceded the only goal of the game. Jhon Lucumí's yellow card in the 56th minute added a disciplinary wrinkle for Colombia's coaching staff to manage heading into matchday three.
Betting Implications
Colombia's six-point haul makes them the outright Group K winners regardless of what happens in their final match. They head into the Round of 32 as one of the form teams in the tournament — clinical enough to grind wins when open play doesn't come, and defensively organized. That combination makes them an intriguing futures play at this stage of the competition. For DR Congo, survival now depends on their final group game and what happens elsewhere; one point leaves them firmly in third, needing a win and favorable results to claim one of the eight best third-placed spots. Bettors eyeing DR Congo futures should treat that path as the long shot it is.
Colombia's deep run potential makes their Round of 32 price worth tracking as the bracket takes shape.
[Bet on the next match at BetMGM](/api/go/betmgm?surface=match-report)