DR Congo name 25-man 2026 World Cup squad with Kakuta

Continuity as the main idea

The logic is easy to read.

• Desabre appears to have kept the spine of the side intact.
• The report frames stability as the priority after qualification.
• That approach often matters more than late experimentation before a major tournament.

International football gives coaches limited time on the training ground. In that setting, familiarity can be as valuable as flair. Patterns, pressing triggers and defensive distances tend to hold up better when a squad has already lived through a high-pressure run together.

Why Kakuta changes the picture

The most eye-catching call is the return of Kakuta.

• He reportedly had only a limited role in recent national-team outings.
• He had already been reintegrated during AFCON 2023 because of an injury gap.
• His recall now looks more about experience and game management than sentiment.

At his best, Kakuta offers composure between the lines and a calmer attacking rhythm. He is unlikely to transform the identity of the side on his own, but he could give DR Congo another option in matches that demand control rather than chaos.

A brutal group, and a clear test

The challenge is obvious. The report says DR Congo are preparing for group games against Portugal, Colombia and Uzbekistan. That is a varied set of opponents: one technical heavyweight, one physically aggressive South American side, and one team likely to be tactically disciplined.

That makes Desabre’s stability-first plan look less conservative and more practical. The next storyline to watch is whether this settled core can turn familiarity into points when the tournament begins.