The national teams of Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) have selected Pinatar Arena as the final stop in their preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations, which kicks off in Morocco at the end of December.
DR Congo returns to the region for the second time following their 2023 stay and will feature established stars such as Cédric Bakambu, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and Chancel Mbemba, among others. Meanwhile, Zambia will be training in the Costa Cálida for the first time before traveling directly to Morocco for their tournament opener against Mali on December 22.
Pinatar Arena: A Launchpad for the 2026 World Cup Journey
The Congolese squad, coached by Sebastien Desabre, first began their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign at Pinatar Arena more than two years ago with a friendly against New Zealand at Murcia’s Enrique Roca Stadium. Now, two years later, they still have a real chance of qualification, with a final playoff in March against the winner of the Jamaica vs New Caledonia clash. A victory would secure DR Congo a spot in Group K, alongside Portugal, Uzbekistan, and Colombia, capping a remarkable qualifying phase.
With these two national teams arriving, Pinatar Arena concludes a record-breaking 2025 while gearing up for a busy winter season filled with clubs and international squads from around the world, with more announcements expected soon.
