10 countries you never knew played in a FIFA World Cup

#5 DR Congo – 1974

The Democratic Republic of Congo are on course to revisiting their glory days with the Leopards currently heading their African World Cup qualifying group. They were ranked as high as #37 in the FIFA rankings in February and have quite the pedigree, having won the Africa Cup of Nations twice and having qualified for the 1974 World Cup in West Germany.

That qualification campaign saw the then Zaire eliminate Togo, Cameroon and Ghana in two-legged matches before routing Morocco and Zambia in the final qualifying round. DR Congo would beat both Morocco and Zambia home and away, achieving a 100% result and scoring six more points than their rivals.

Placed in a tough group involving defending champions Brazil and Yugoslavia, DR Congo did not have a happy World Cup. Beaten 2-0 by Scotland in their opener, the Africans were humiliated 9-0 by the Yugoslavians before losing 3-0 to Brazil in their final match despite a spirited performance.

Despite conceding 14 goals without reply in three games, DR Congo happily hold the record of becoming the first sub-Saharan nation to qualify for the World Cup Finals.