Fabio Cannavaro described Uzbekistan's elimination from the World Cup as "brutal" after they failed to win any of their group games in North America. 

Uzbekistan, making their debut at the World Cup, finished their Group K campaign with three defeats from three games, while also conceding 11 times and scoring twice. 

Following defeats to both Colombia and Portugal, Uzbekistan's elimination was already confirmed ahead of facing DR Congo in their final group game at Atlanta Stadium. 

And with only pride to play for, Eldor Shomurodov gave Uzbekistan the lead in the 10th minute, but an inspired second-half display from Yoane Wissa turned the game around.

Wissa netted a 68th-minute penalty before Fiston Mayele clipped a smart finish over Abduvokhid Nematov 10 minutes later, with the Newcastle United striker sealing the victory, and a spot in the knockout stages, in stoppage time. 

Cannavaro, a World Cup winner with Italy, defended his players, but spoke of the harsh realities of competing on the world's biggest stage at international level. 

"The World Cup is brutal," he said. "They gave everything? Yes. ​They are sad in the changing room. Wow, my friend, believe me. They suffer more than ​anyone in Uzbekistan."

When asked why he was smiling after the full-time whistle, Cannavaro explained, "You think I'm not nervous, ⁠I'm not angry? I don't feel good because I don't like to lose.

"We ​made some mistakes, of course, but I cannot complain about my players.

"I will never complain ​about my players because I know, and I told you, you were in the press conference, and you know what I said the first day when we saw the draw."

Cannavaro added that Uzbekistan as a country must invest further in order to compete at another World Cup, adding: "We have ⁠to understand ​that Uzbekistan football needs to improve.

"Uzbekistan football needs ​to continue investing money in academies, investing money in youth players, because it's the only way to try to have ​Uzbekistan in the World Cup in the next 20-30 years."

For DR Congo, however, they became the 11th African nation to advance from the group stage at a World Cup and the fifth to do so for the first time in 2026, after Ivory Coast, South Africa, Cape Verde and Egypt. 

They scored two goals in a 10-minute span in the second half after having scored one goal in their first five-and-a-half matches at the World Cup (including as Zaire in 1974).

Wissa also made history, too. He equalled Ismael Saibari and Ismalia Sarr as the top scoring players for an African country at this year's World Cup (three goals). 

He netted DR Congo's first two goals at the tournament as well. The only other player to score an African nation's first two all-time World Cup goals was Abdelrahman Fawzi for Egypt in 1934.

DR Congo's victory saw them advance as one of the best third-placed teams, and their reward is a tie against Thomas Tuchel's England, who won Group L. 

"We'll start work ​immediately on preparing," DR Congo boss Sebastien Desabre said of his team's upcoming meeting with the Three Lions. 

"We've got a few players in the squad ​who play at clubs in the English league, so they ⁠will help us, but we'll prepare in the best way we can ​for what is going to be a very big match for us."

Desabre lauded his team for their achievement, reminding his players to enjoy what they had achieved before turning their attention to England. 

"I'd like to congratulate my ​players for their work. It's a squad that's been together for four years, and we ‌have ⁠always kept on believing.

"The win means a lot to the country, and the victory was quite wonderful. It's very positive, and we showed a good image of Congo."