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WHO: Portugal x DR Congo
What: FIFA World Cup 2026 Group K Games
ThatLocation: Houston Stadium, Houston, Texas, United States
When: Wednesday, 12pm (17:00 GMT)
How to follow: Continue with all changes Al Jazeera Sport
Portugal They will be looking to put 60 World Cups behind them when their 2026 campaign begins with a Group K clash against the Democratic Republic of Congo in Houston.
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Although it is England fans who remember the glory days of 1966, the Three Lions have been more successful than Portugal since then.
Superstar Cristiano Ronaldo he wants to add to his legend by winning his sixth World Cup and wants to lift the only big trophy that can stop him. in his last race.
Their group stage begins with a match against DR Congo, who have just won their second round but are looking for their first goal – and a point – in the World Cup.
Can Ronaldo take the crown by helping Portugal to their first World Cup title?
It has been 60 years since Portugal’s best World Cup showing, a third place finish inspired by Eusebio’s England in 1966 in their first match.
They have only been back to the semifinals once since, in 2006, and disappointingly exited in the last eight at Qatar 2022 to Morocco after coming through a treacherous group and beating Switzerland 6-1 in the round of 16.
Although they have trophies to show for this precious time – the 2016 UEFA European Championships (Euro 2016) and the Nations League last year after winning the shootout in Spain – the World Cup has been coming to an end.
Considered to be the contenders this time, confidence should rise with Vitinha, Joao Neves and Nune Mendes who helped the top team of France Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) to the second consecutive Champions League title, while Bruno Fernandes shone at Manchester United, registering a Premier League record of 21 assists.
And there is Cristiano, who was disappointed by the Saudi club Al-Nassr, despite scoring 30 goals in 37 games in all competitions.
Ronaldo is the only survivor of Portugal’s Euros 2016 victory, entering the 2026 World Cup, and is the only player to have scored five goals in the tournament (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022).
However, of his eight World Cup goals, none have come as knock-ons, and he was sent off against Switzerland in Qatar – his first non-starter at a major tournament in 14 years.
His only goal in the last World Cup came from a penalty, and he had no interest in Euro 2024, where another final exit followed penalties in France.
If Portugal finish top of Group K, they will play their last 32 games against the third-place finisher, and that coincides with the anniversary of Diogo Jota’s death on July 3.
The former Liverpool player died in a road accident just after helping Portugal lift the UEFA Nations League, and players must wear headbands during matches.
DR Congo is aiming to set a new record on its return to the World Cup
Having been given a place in the competition only by Senegal, DR Congo completed their 52nd campaign – against former rivals Zaire – with a 1-0 win over Jamaica in their semi-final in Mexico in March.
Their plans have failed due to the Ebola epidemic, and Portugal will be asking for a tough start to their campaign, but a meeting with Uzbekistan on June 27 could give Sebastien Desabre’s men the chance to finish third in the group and secure a possible lead.
Although they may not be household names, DR Congo boasts many English Premier League titles. Their defense consists of West Ham’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Burnley’s Axel Tuanzebe, who scored the extra goal that saw them qualify, and Sunderland left-back Arthur Masuaku.
His 20-year-old Sunderland team-mate Noah Sadiki has been unveiled in midfield, with Newcastle United’s Yoane Wissa and Real Betis’ 35-year-old Cedric Bakambu leading the way for Portugal.
As the first sub-Saharan country to reach the World Cup, then African champions Zaire lost all three games in 1974, including a 9-0 humbling by Yugoslavia. In one of the group’s matches against Brazil, defender Mwepu Ilunga drove against the wall and scored a free-kick for Brazil in one of the most enduring images of the World Cup.
It was later revealed that what led to his booking, was as much a waste of time as a political protest, as the players were threatened with expulsion if they lost by more than three goals – trailing 2-0 at the time.
The match ended 3-0, and they were allowed to go home, although football in the country has been difficult since then, until Desabre changed.
Even so, perhaps the most famous figure in modern Congolese football is the fan.
Michel Nkuka Mboladinga has spent the past 13 years going to Leopards games dressed in smart suits and standing silently with one arm raised, mimicking a statue of Congo’s respected political leader Patrice Lumumba.
His public presence at the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in January attracted international attention, and he was later included in the national delegation at the tournament, at the request of the players.
How does the group stage work?
Portugal, DR Congo, Colombia and Uzbekistan are in Group K.
They will play each other once in the first round of the tournament. The top two teams from all 12 groups – along with the eight third-placed teams – will advance to the next stage, the round of 32, which has been introduced for the first time at the World Cup.
Head to head
This will be the first meeting between the two countries, and if the Leopards pull off a surprise, it could be one of the biggest meetings in the history of the competition.
Control form:
(Last five matches, most recent matches first)
Portugal: WWWDW
DR Congo: LDWLW
Portugal enter the competition on the back of three consecutive wins against the USA, Chile and Nigeria, following a goalless draw against Mexico in March.
DR Congo were beaten 2-1 by the same Chile team on June 9 in their second and final warm-up game, but played against Denmark six days earlier, where they introduced a five-man trial kit. Their previous games were a comfortable win over Jamaica in March and an AFCON last-16 loss to Algeria in January.
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While Portugal coach Roberto Martinez is healthy for the opening game, the elephant in the room is their 41-year-old star player.
Ronaldo has not scored from open play in his two major international competitions, and his on-field power is waning, missing good opportunities in Nigeria’s hot streak to increase its international goals 143.
The popular striker is sure to win his 229th cap, but will it be from the start or from the bench?
Portugal was predicted XI😀 Costa (goalkeeper); Cancelo, Dias, Inacio, Mendes; J Neves, Fernandes, Vitinha; Bernardo, Ronaldo, Neto.
In DR Congo predicted XI: Pain (goalkeeper); Wan-Bissaka, Kapuadi, Tuanzebe, Mbemba, Masuaku; Mououssamy, Sadiki, Mukau; Wissa, Word.
What are the Portugal vs DR Congo predictions?
Unsurprisingly, Portugal, ranked 5th in FIFA’s world rankings, are the favorites for the Group K opener.
DR Congo, one of Africa’s most successful soccer nations, has a one-in-four chance of winning according to Opta to cause chaos at Houston Stadium.
You can follow Al Jazeera’s dedicated content FIFA World Cup 2026 a page with the latest news, match updates and commentary and find out the standings of the team, real-time game results and schedules.
