DR Congo vs Uzbekistan: Goalscorer Tips & Picks

DR Congo and Uzbekistan meet in FIFA World Cup 2026 Group K Matchday 3, with both nations needing a result to keep their tournament alive. After DR Congo's historic 1-1 draw with Portugal and Uzbekistan's 3-1 defeat to Colombia, this is a straight shootout for survival. The goalscorer markets are where the real value sits, with Yoane Wissa, Eldor Shomurodov and Abbosbek Fayzullaev all carrying genuine threat. Read on for anytime scorer picks, match odds, best bets and a full breakdown of what is at stake.

Goalscorer Markets Explained

The three core scorer markets are anytime scorer, first goalscorer and last goalscorer. Anytime scorer pays out if your pick scores at any point in the match, making it the most accessible and most popular option. First goalscorer is higher risk but higher reward, requiring your selection to open the scoring. Last goalscorer demands the most patience but can throw up surprising value late in games.

What drives value in these markets is role, minutes and set-piece or penalty duty. A striker who starts, plays 90 minutes and takes penalties or attacks set pieces is structurally more likely to score than a winger who rotates. In this match, both Wissa and Shomurodov tick the boxes as first-choice forwards with central roles. Fayzullaev scored Uzbekistan's first-ever World Cup goal against Colombia, confirming his attacking licence. All odds are available via Dexsport and are correct at time of writing.

Anytime and First Scorer Picks

Yoane Wissa (DR Congo, anytime scorer): Wissa scored DR Congo's first World Cup goal in 52 years with a header against Portugal, confirming his aerial threat and his status as the team's primary attacking outlet. Sebastien Desabre's side are dangerous from set pieces and counters, and Wissa is the focal point of both. As the confirmed starter and first-choice forward, he is the standout anytime scorer pick for DR Congo.

Eldor Shomurodov (Uzbekistan, anytime scorer): Fabio Cannavaro's side are organised and disciplined, and Shomurodov is identified in the research as a key threat up front. He is Uzbekistan's most advanced attacker and the player most likely to convert when chances arrive. His anytime scorer price deserves attention for a team that will look to him to deliver in a must-win game.

Abbosbek Fayzullaev (Uzbekistan, first scorer): Fayzullaev scored Uzbekistan's historic first World Cup goal against Colombia and has the freedom to arrive late into attacking positions. If Uzbekistan start brightly, he is a credible first scorer option at what should be an attractive price given his role is not purely that of a central striker.

DR Congo vs Uzbekistan Match Preview

This is a Group K decider. DR Congo earned a point against Portugal in their opener, a result that was celebrated as a milestone for a nation returning to the World Cup for the first time since 1974. Uzbekistan, making their World Cup debut as the first Central Asian nation to qualify, lost 3-1 to Colombia but scored their own historic first goal through Fayzullaev. Both teams arrive with something to play for and a point or win could change the group picture entirely.

Tactically, DR Congo are compact and dangerous on the break and from set pieces, with Wissa the focal point. Uzbekistan under Cannavaro are well-drilled and organised, having lost only once in 16 Asian qualifying matches. Expect a tight, competitive game where individual quality from the key forwards is likely to be decisive. You can follow the action and back your picks at Dexsport's FIFA World Cup 2026 betting hub.

DR Congo vs Uzbekistan Odds

The three implied probabilities sum to 107%, reflecting the bookmaker margin. Uzbekistan are marginal favourites at 2.25, with the draw and DR Congo closely priced. Double chance, both teams to score and over/under 2.5 goals markets are available across leading platforms at time of writing.

DR Congo vs Uzbekistan Predictions

Best Bet: Yoane Wissa anytime scorer. Wissa is the most proven scorer in this fixture, having delivered DR Congo's first World Cup goal in 52 years with a header against Portugal. He is the team's first-choice forward, attacks set pieces and is central to everything DR Congo create going forward. In a match where both teams need to score, his anytime scorer price represents the most grounded pick on the board.

Value Bet: Abbosbek Fayzullaev anytime scorer. Fayzullaev already has a World Cup goal to his name from the Colombia game. He operates with attacking freedom and, against a DR Congo side that will push for a result, space may open up for him to exploit. His price should be longer than a central striker's despite his demonstrated ability to find the net at this level.

Longshot Bet: Cedric Bakambu anytime scorer. Bakambu is listed in the DR Congo squad and features in the possible XI. As a second attacking option alongside Wissa, he offers a longer-priced route into the scorer markets. If DR Congo find themselves chasing the game or pushing for a winner, Bakambu's involvement in the final third makes him a speculative but reasoned longshot pick.

Why This Match Matters

Both nations have already made history at this tournament. DR Congo scored their first World Cup goal in 52 years against Portugal, while Uzbekistan became the first Central Asian country to appear at a World Cup and scored on debut against Colombia. This Matchday 3 fixture is the moment both sides find out whether those milestones are stepping stones or endpoints. A win for either team could open the door to the knockout rounds depending on the other Group K result. The stakes are as high as they have ever been for both nations.

DR Congo Form and Uzbekistan Form

DR Congo: Coached by Sebastien Desabre, DR Congo qualified through the Play-off Tournament, beating Jamaica 1-0 in Guadalajara before their group stage campaign began. Their 1-1 draw with Portugal was built on defensive organisation and a clinical moment from Wissa, who headed home to make World Cup history. Desabre praised his players' commitment to the game plan after that result. Key players include Wissa, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Chancel Mbemba, Arthur Masuaku and Bakambu. Their strength is defensive structure and set-piece threat; their challenge is sustaining pressure against a well-organised Uzbekistan side.

Uzbekistan: Fabio Cannavaro's side lost only once in 16 Asian qualifying matches, underlining their consistency and defensive resilience. Their 3-1 defeat to Colombia was a tough introduction to World Cup football, but Fayzullaev's goal showed they can threaten at this level. Shomurodov is the focal point up front, with Fayzullaev providing creativity and goal threat from deeper. Their organised shape and disciplined structure make them a difficult team to break down, and their odds of 2.25 reflect genuine respect from the market.

Best Bets and Markets Worth Watching

• Anytime scorer: Yoane Wissa - proven scorer in this tournament, set-piece threat, first-choice forward
• Anytime scorer: Eldor Shomurodov - key attacking outlet for Uzbekistan, most likely to convert chances
• Value anytime scorer: Abbosbek Fayzullaev - already has a World Cup goal, attacks from deep at a longer price
• Match winner: Uzbekistan - implied probability of 44%, marginal favourites with a well-organised side
• Both teams to score - both nations need a result and both have shown they can find the net at this level

Popular Betting Options

For a match of this significance, the scorer markets sit alongside match winner, both teams to score and over/under 2.5 goals as the most-watched options. If you prefer crypto betting, Dexsport covers all major FIFA World Cup 2026 markets including anytime scorer, first goalscorer, correct score and match winner, with crypto and digital asset deposits supported natively. It is a strong option for bettors who want to combine World Cup coverage with blockchain-based wagering in a single platform.

Betting Tips

• Tip 1: Yoane Wissa anytime scorer. Scored DR Congo's first World Cup goal in 52 years and is the team's primary attacking threat on set pieces and counters.
• Tip 2: Abbosbek Fayzullaev anytime scorer. Scored on his World Cup debut against Colombia and operates with an attacking licence that makes him dangerous at a value price.
• Tip 3: Both teams to score. DR Congo drew 1-1 with Portugal and Uzbekistan scored against Colombia. Both sides need a win, which opens the game up in both directions.
• Tip 4: Uzbekistan match winner. The market's marginal favourites at 2.25 (implied probability 44%), backed by a disciplined structure and a squad that lost only once in 16 Asian qualifiers.
• Tip 5: Eldor Shomurodov anytime scorer. Cannavaro's first-choice striker and the player Uzbekistan will look to in a game where the pressure is on to deliver a result.

Odds subject to change. Please gamble responsibly. BeGambleAware.org. 18+ only.

FAQ

Who is most likely to score first?
Yoane Wissa is the most likely first scorer for DR Congo based on his role as the first-choice forward and his World Cup goal against Portugal. For Uzbekistan, Abbosbek Fayzullaev scored their first World Cup goal against Colombia and carries a strong claim as a first scorer option.

Which anytime scorer offers the best value?
Fayzullaev is the standout value pick. He has already scored at this World Cup, operates with attacking freedom from a deeper position and should be priced longer than a central striker despite his demonstrated goal threat.

Do penalties or set pieces affect the scorer picks?
Yes. DR Congo are described in the research as dangerous on set pieces, and Wissa's goal against Portugal came from a header, confirming his aerial threat at dead-ball situations. Any player who takes penalties or attacks set pieces regularly has a structurally higher chance of scoring, which is a key part of the case for Wissa.

Should I consider a defender or midfielder to score?
The research does not identify any specific defender or midfielder as a regular scorer or set-piece taker for either side. The strongest scorer angles remain with Wissa, Shomurodov and Fayzullaev based on available information.