Portugal vs – Cristiano Ronaldo’s 2026 World Cup opener in Houston ended in frustration as Portugal and DR Congo played to a 1-1 draw at NRG Stadium, with João Neves scoring for Portugal in the sixth minute and Yoane Wissa equalizing just before halftime.
HOUSTON — By the time the stadium’s attention had tilted fully toward the clock—final seconds approaching and both teams still deadlocked at 1-1—Portugal had another chance to turn pressure into a winner. It didn’t come.
Cristiano Ronaldo, a key presence in Portugal’s lineup, was largely absent from meaningful possession in the first half. In the final minute of second-half regulation, he finally forced a moment in the box, but his shot went wide of the far post as Congo held on throughout the second half.
Portugal had taken the lead just six minutes in. when João Neves headed in after Pedro Neto’s looping ball. DR Congo refused to fold. Yoane Wissa answered just before halftime with a header off a cross from a short corner. sparking a burst of celebration from Congo supporters and leaving Portugal players stunned as they walked off.
The match tightened as it moved toward the 90th minute. The level of physicality rose, with both sides desperate to break the tie. Congo won a critical free kick late in the game after Tomas Araujo was given a yellow card for dragging down a Congo player. Near the same stretch, Congo’s forward Cédric Bakambu fired a shot over the goal.
Portugal and DR Congo are both in Group K with Uzbekistan and Colombia, who face off later on Wednesday.
Portugal’s attack found its rhythm through Bruno Fernandes and—when the ball arrived—opportunities for Ronaldo. In one moment early in the second half. the Manchester United midfielder set up a dangerous run into the 6-yard box. but Vitinha waited too long to shoot or pass and Diogo Costa came out to deny the chance. Portugal led in shot attempts 8-5. though the majority of DR Congo’s attempts were not on target. and neither side managed to find the net again after Wissa’s equalizer.
Ronaldo had two scoring chances in the span of minutes. He appeared in visible agony after a first shot missed by inches, hitting a one-touch shot on a well-placed cross. Later, he threaded another one-touch attempt while being closely marked in the penalty area. Francisco Conceicao nearly provided the assist after Bruno Fernandes got him the ball near the goal line. but the shot never became the clincher Portugal needed.
On the other end, Congo showed it wasn’t going to simply absorb pressure and settle for a draw. Cédric Bakambu forced a save from Portugal keeper Diogo Costa minutes into the second half. and Congo kept pushing higher up the field with more regularity in the second half. That shift came after they began the game sitting back while Portugal dominated possession.
One key moment near halftime underlined how tense the match had become. After pro-Congo chants broke out in the stands, Congo found themselves close to another breakthrough; then Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa had a risky run-in with a Congo attacker and barely cleared the ball in time.
Congo captain Chancel Mbemba was booked after he and Bernardo Silva collided in the air while going for the ball. It could have gone the other direction. but Mbemba was the one shown a yellow card. while Silva already had a yellow card from earlier in the match. Portugal also had its own booking: Bernardo Silva was issued a yellow card for a studs-up tackle. despite Cristiano Ronaldo pleading with the referee.
The tie also carried a sharp edge in Portugal’s immediate quest to go ahead again. Portugal nearly went up 2-1 when João Cancelo scored a half bicycle kick. but the goal was disallowed for offside. It followed promising play: Bruno Fernandes used his chest to trap a long cross right into Cancelo’s path.
If Portugal had hope, Congo created doubt. Steve Kapuadi nearly added to the score on a corner kick, nodding a header just wide. And as the game moved through its later stages, both teams continued to trade threat—Portugal controlling possession around 62%, but Congo leading in shots 2-1.
Congo’s equalizer mattered beyond the scoreboard. Wissa’s goal was Congo’s first ever at the World Cup. The team had previously failed to score at its only other World Cup appearance in 1974, when it competed as Zaire.
Before kickoff, the atmosphere in Houston made the stakes feel immediate. Portugal fans filled the stadium, beating drums and singing loudly in support. Ticket prices were reportedly close to $1,000 at kickoff. Fans were overwhelmingly in Portugal colors, with the majority wearing Cristiano Ronaldo’s No. 7 jersey.
The match started on time in Houston, with Portugal kicking off. Ronaldo was announced in the stadium to resounding cheers. framed by Portugal’s port red uniforms and Congo’s light blue kit. Portugal lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Ronaldo as the lone striker and Bruno Fernandes directly behind him. supported by Pedro Neto and Bernardo Silva. Congo used a 5-3-2 formation and aimed to stifle Portugal’s attack.
Congo coach Sébastien Desabre had warned that Portugal’s versatility—especially how players change zones when possessing the ball—could create problems. He said the Leopards would have to “reduce speed” and reduce Portugal’s ability to “combine over the last 30 meters.”
For Portugal manager Roberto Martinez, a hydration break during the match wasn’t just about comfort. He said the break gave coaches a chance to tactically strategize. Congo’s strategy showed its own shape: they held on through the second half. kept pressing without giving Portugal an easy path. and made sure the early lead would not become a rout.
As both coaches approached what were expected to be their final substitutions near the 90th minute, the match still sat at 1-1. If the score holds, Portugal will remain unbeaten in its last six FIFA World Cup group-stage matches against African opposition.
Portugal’s history against African teams adds context to the result. Their last defeat to an African team came in a 3-1 loss to Morocco in 1986. Portugal has a 4-2-2 record in opening fixtures at the World Cup. with losses in only two of its eight games—those being a 3-2 loss to the United States in 2002 and a 4-0 defeat to Germany in 2014. The club is also trying to avoid slipping in a group where momentum could swing quickly.
With Wednesday’s next Group K match scheduled between Uzbekistan and Colombia. Portugal and DR Congo now face a sharper test: converting this kind of tight opener into something more decisive as the tournament moves toward June fixtures—June 23 in Houston against Uzbekistan. June 27 in Miami against Colombia. then June 27 versus Uzbekistan in Atlanta. and June 23 against Colombia in Guadalajara.
The game also reached beyond the pitch in the smallest ways. On the television scorebug, Congo’s name was abbreviated to COD, derived from the country’s French name, République Démocratique du Congo—also serving to distinguish it from its neighbor, the smaller Republic of Congo, which uses COG.
Portugal starting lineup: Diogo Costa (GK), Joao Cancelo, Tomas Araujo, Renato Veiga, Nuno Mendes, Vitinha, Joao Neves, Bruno Fernandes, Pedro Neto, Bernado Silva, Cristiano Ronaldo.
DR Congo starting lineup: Lionel Mpasi (GK), Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Steve Kapuadi, Axel Tuanzebe, Arthur Masuaku, Chancel Mbemba, Edo Kayembe, Samuel Moutoussamy, Ngal’ayel Mukau, Cedric Bakambu, Yoane Wissa.
Portugal DR Congo Cristiano Ronaldo João Neves Yoane Wissa 2026 World Cup NRG Stadium Group K Houston