DR Congo declares national holiday over World Cup qualification
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) has declared Wednesday a public holiday to celebrate the country’s qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
On Wednesday, DR Congo defeated Jamaica in the intercontinental playoffs to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in 52 years.
The country was still named Zaire when the Leopards last reached the biggest football stage in 1974.
In a memo issued hours after the achievement, the DR Congo’s ministry of labour said a public holiday must be observed nationwide.