Senny Mayulu has made his international choice, and joão neves is now part of the story in a direct way. The Paris Saint-Germain midfielder is moving toward representing RD Congo, the country of origin of his parents, after already starting the process to obtain a Congolese passport on Sunday, 5 April 2026, at 11: 22 ET.
The decision matters because RD Congo will be in Portugal’s World Cup group, alongside Colombia and Uzbekistan, with the opening match against the Portuguese team set for 17 June. It also revives recent tension around Mayulu, who drew attention in late February over renewal issues with PSG after claims that he wanted to earn more than joão neves.
Mayulu chooses RD Congo after weighing his options
Mayulu, 19, could have chosen France, the country where he was born in Le Blanc-Mesnil. Instead, he has chosen to follow his African roots and represent RD Congo, also known as the Leopards. The process to secure his Congolese passport is already under way, making the move more than a simple intention.
This is a significant international decision for a player still early in his career. It places Mayulu on a path that could bring him face to face with a PSG teammate in a much bigger setting than club football.
João Neves link returns after February contract tension
The link to joão neves comes from a separate but notable episode in late February, when Mayulu was in the news over problems in his renewal with PSG. The issue centered on allegations that he wanted a higher salary than joão neves, a detail that now carries extra weight as both players remain connected at club level while potentially meeting on the world stage.
For PSG, the situation is straightforward but unusual: two teammates could soon meet as opponents at the World Cup, depending on how the tournament unfolds. That possibility gives added relevance to Mayulu’s international switch and keeps joão neves in the frame beyond club football.
What RD Congo means for Portugal’s group
RD Congo secured its place in the World Cup after beating Jamaica in the play-off for qualification. The team will join Portugal, Colombia and Uzbekistan in the group stage, with the match against Portugal scheduled for 17 June.
That structure sets up one of the clearest potential crossover moments for PSG players in the tournament. If both players are selected and reach the match in form, joão neves and Mayulu could meet in a game that carries both national and personal significance.
What comes next for joão neves and Mayulu
The immediate next step is the completion of Mayulu’s passport process and the final confirmation of his international status. After that, the focus shifts to squad decisions and the World Cup calendar, where joão neves may find himself on the opposite side of a teammate who once made headlines for asking for more than him. For now, the path is clear enough to make joão neves part of a story that is moving quickly toward the summer tournament.
