Portugal Held to 1-1 Draw by DR Congo in World Cup Opener
Portugal's men's national football team drew 1-1 with the Democratic Republic of Congo in their first World Cup match in Houston, while Cristiano Ronaldo became only the second player to appear in six tournaments.
On June 17, 2026, Portugal faced the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in their opening group stage match of the World Cup in Houston, ending in a 1-1 draw.
Portugal took the lead in the 6th minute when João Neves headed in a cross from Pedro Neto. DRC equalized in first-half stoppage time: after a corner kick, Arthur Masuaku delivered the ball into the box, and Joane Visa headed it home.
In the second half, Portuguese defense was sloppy, allowing DRC striker Cédric Bakambu several dangerous attempts, one of which hit the post. The score remained unchanged.
The match was historic as Cristiano Ronaldo became the second footballer to feature in six World Cup tournaments, joining Lionel Messi who set the record the previous day.
In Group K, later that night in Mexico City, Uzbekistan was set to face Colombia.
This is the first World Cup with 48 teams, hosted across three countries: Mexico, the United States, and Canada. The teams are divided into 12 groups of four. The top two from each group and the eight best third-placed teams advance to the knockout stage. The group stage ends on June 27, with knockout matches starting June 28. Semifinals are scheduled for July 14 and 15, the bronze medal match for July 18, and the final for July 19.
In the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Argentina defeated France on penalties to become champions.
