2026 World Cup: Lumumba Barred from Entry, Congolese Fans Find a Workaround

Lumumba barred from entering. Michel Kika Mboladinga, the Congolese “statue fan” known as Lumumba who has become famous in recent months, was unable to attend the African national team’s match against Uzbekistan, a game counting toward the third matchday of the 2026 World Cup qualifying group stage.

To keep the tradition alive, Congolese fans hoisted a cardboard cutout bearing his likeness in his place: the stand-in for the statue-like fan fully fulfilled his good-luck role, as Congo defeated Fabio Cannavaro’s team and qualified for the round of 16 of the World Cup.

Lumumba was in the stands during the match against Colombia, which was played in Guadalajara, Mexico. The final score against Uzbekistan was 3-1, with the Uzbeks thus ending their World Cup run with three losses in as many matches, zero points, and a heavy goal differential of eleven goals conceded to just two scored. A grim outcome for the team led by Italian coach Fabio Cannavaro, which failed to turn things around even in its final group stage match.

Now, a high-profile challenge awaits the Congolese national team: on Wednesday, July 1, at 6:00 p.m. Italian time, Congo will face England at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. On paper, this is a daunting match for the Africans, but the Congolese people will approach it with all the enthusiasm they’ve shown so far—including the cardboard cutout of Lumumba.