Congo coach learns of father's death during post-match press conference

Following the Democratic Republic of the Congo's elimination from the 2026 World Cup round of 32 by England, coach Sébastien Desabre faced a personal tragedy. During the post-match press conference, the team's press officer announced the death of the 49-year-old coach's father. England secured a victory after trailing for 75 minutes, with Harry Kane scoring two goals to advance his team to the round of 16 against Mexico. The announcement of the death occurred live, leaving Desabre visibly shocked and visibly stunned by the news. Some reports suggest he may have been surprised by the public nature of the announcement, while others focus on his immediate emotional reaction. Desabre uttered a brief 'thank you' before exiting the room, with the incident sparking debate over the appropriateness of the timing of the announcement. This event concluded a high-stakes match that resulted in the departure of the Congo national team from the tournament.