The Democratic Republic of Congo national football team arrived in Houston for the 2026 FIFA World Cup wearing leopard inspired attire, which is fitting for their name Les Léopards.
The look was designed by Alvin Junior Mak.
The tournament marks DR Congo’s first FIFA World Cup appearance since 1974, when the country competed under the name Zaire. More than five decades later, Les Léopards return with a renewed sense of pride and purpose, carrying the hopes of a nation eager to make its mark on the global stage.
In Congolese culture, the leopard has long been regarded as a symbol of strength, power, courage, and resilience, making it the perfect emblem for a team representing the nation on the world’s biggest football stage.
DR Congo go up against Portugal on June 17. They are one of the 46 teams competing in the World Cup.
Before coming to Houston, he team canceled a three-day World Cup preparation training camp and a planned farewell because of the ebola outbreak in their country which has killed at least 139 people, at the time of this reporting, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.
Also before arriving in the U.S. the team trained in Belgium in a COVID-style environment. They played a match against Chile and France without spectators.
DRC is not the only team showing out in the culture and fashion department.
The Ghana Black Stars arrived in Providence, R.I. wearing Puma-designed “Kwaku Ananse” home jerseys.
Ghana will face Panama, England, and Croatia beginning June 17.
The Cote d’Ivoire team arrived in orange and yellow tie dye blazers designed by Ibrahim Fernandez Couture. The Ivory Coast national football team is in Philadelphia.
They will be going up against Ecuador, Germany, and Curaçao.
The Senegal national football team (Lions of Teranga) wad the first African nation to come over for the FIFA World Cup.
Senegal will face France, Norway, and Iraq in Group I during the opening round of the 2026
Overall 10 African nations will be competing in the world cup.
