Newsletters
DR Congo coach Sebastien Desabre's post-match press conference was cut short after the death of his father was announced live following his team's 2-1 defeat to England in the 2026 FIFA World Cup round of 32.
DR Congo, formally the Democratic Republic of Congo, had been close to pulling off one of the tournament's biggest surprises after taking a 1-0 lead against England and holding on until the closing stages.
However, England captain Harry Kane turned the match around with two late goals, scoring in the 75th and 86th minutes to send his team through to the last 16.
After the final whistle, Desabre went into the official press conference room to speak about the match. During the live broadcast, it was announced that his father had died.
It remains unclear when Desabre was informed of the news. Following the announcement, the French coach thanked members of the press and brought the press conference to an end.
The emotional scene came at the end of a historic World Cup run for DR Congo, which had reached the finals for the first time since 1974 under Desabre's management.
During the 2026 tournament, DR Congo scored its first goals in World Cup history, recorded its first win and advanced from the group stage for the first time.
Desabre, who had been regarded among the standout coaches of the tournament, saw his side push England deep into the match before Kane's late double ended their campaign.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
1 min read
1 min read
