Portugal vs DR Congo summary: score, stats, goals and highlights | FIFA World Cup 2026

What's next for DR Congo?

DR Congo, who have just multiplied their chances of reaching the knockouts, follow up one exacting test with another.

On matchday two, the Léopards take on Colombia in Guadalajara. Kickoff at Estadio Akron is at 10:00 p.m. ET.

What's next for Portugal?

Having rather flopped against a team ending a 52-year World Cup absence, Portugal now face a team making its first appearance at a World Cup.

In six days' time - on Tuesday, June 23 - the Seleçao are again in action at NRG Stadium, where they take on Uzbekistan.

That game is scheduled to kick off in Houston at 1:00 p.m. ET

Portugal lack punch

According to our friends at SofaScore, that was Portugal's joint-lowest total of shots and shots on target in a men's World Cup match.

Group K as it now stands

So, having held off Portugal in Houston, DR Congo sit alongside the Seleçao after Group K's first game.

Colombia and Uzbekistan, who meet in Mexico City later this evening, now have the chance to go top of the table after matchday one.

Peeep peeep peeep! Tempers briefly flare between Wissa and Conceiçao, before Abdulrahman Al-Jassim blows his whistle for full time!

DR Congo have scored their first ever World Cup goal, and it has earned them their first ever World Cup point.

Portugal came into this tournament as one of the favorites, but - having initially looked like blowing the Congolese away - they've ended up delivering a decidedly disappointing first performance.

Last minute of time added on. Fernandes stands over a Portugal corner on the right.

Is this the Seleçao's moment?

No. No, it is not. Mpasi scampers off his line to claim Fernandes' delivery.

Oh, wow. When DR Congo launch another break, Wissa knocks it past Araújo and is absolutely cleaned out by the defender.

Araújo is booked. It's about the most deserved yellow I've ever seen. Maybe even worth a red? VAR doesn't think so.

Still, it's a free-kick that DR Congo will very happily take. It helps run down the clock a little further.

Five minutes of time added on in Texas.

Fernandes - for what feels like the first time all afternoon - tries his luck with a dig from just outside the box. He's well off target.

DR Congo have it in the Portugal half - but when they lose it, Portugal look to get Conceiçao running forward with a long ball into open space in the Congolese half. The pass is overhit, though, and Mpasi is rapidly off his line to head away.

Were Ronaldo to score, by the way, he would be the first man to hit the net at six separate World Cups. The way things are going, he may well have to wait.

Semedo pulls down Wissa as the Congolese forward makes a break for the Portugal half. A yellow card all day long.

We've got Paulo Future on co-comms on Spanish TV, and he's so incensed by what he's seeing that he's currently speaking more Portuguese than Spanish.

Portugal's Joao Cancelo reacts after missing a goal opportunity in Houston.

That's the last thing Bakambu will do today. He and Wan-Bissaka are withdrawn, with Banza and Kalulu on.

Bakambu tries to volley a bouncing ball on the edge of the Portugal box - but it's a swing and a miss.

No matter: he was offside, and seemed to know it, anway.

Roberto Martínez throws on Gonçalo Ramos, a center-forward, for Vitinha, a central midfielder. 

Ten minutes for Portugal to find a winner... but they won't find one playing like that.

Vitinha loses it on the edge of the DR Congo box, giving the Léopards the chance to break.

The counter comes to nought, but time is running out for the Portuguese. DR Congo are getting so close to a huge result.

Sadiki delivers into the box for DR Congo, but Costa is off his line to claim.

He quickly launches a break, which - you guessed it -  is worked right to Conceiçao.

Conceiçao jinks past Kapuadi and thinks he's got a free-kick when he falls over the defender's leg. But the Portugal forward was offside, so it'll be a Congolese ball.

Fernandes slaps over a dreadful corner-kick delivery for Portugal... and suddenly, for the first time in quite a while, DR Congo are haring forward on the attack.

Bakambu leads the charge, before shooting from 25 yards or so out. His strike is well enough hit, but it flies past Costa's goal and into the stands.

Right, DR Congo are really starting to cling on here.

Once more, Portugal get some joy down the right, where it's again cut back to the penalty spot. But Tuanzebe cuts it out! 

A double substitution for DR Congo. Joris Kayembe and Pickel are on, with Edo Kayembe and Masuaku making way.

Yet again, Conceiçao is in the thick of the action. It's worked right to the winger, who bursts towards the DR Congo byline.

He cuts it back to the penalty spot, where Ronaldo is arriving at pace. He gets plenty behind his first-time finish... but he turns it just past Mpasi's left-hand post!

Cooling break over.

Portugal make two changes: Rafa Leao and Nelson Semedo are on for Pedro Neto and Nuno Mendes.

Drinks break time!

DR Congo are edging closer and closer to historic point.

Ronaldo shoots, but Ronaldo misses!

Again Conceiçao is the man delegated to try and create something. Scampering in off his wing, he makes a bee-line for the DR Congo box, before cutting it back to Ronaldo at the near post. It's slightly behind him, and he can't get his boot sufficiently around the ball. It flies wide.

Behind Ronaldo, Fernandes was much better placed to take the shot.

There's a brief flare-up of tempers when Nuno Mendes and Kayembe clash on the touchline, just in front of the benches.

It's quickly diffused.

Portugal looked so fluid in attack in the game's initial stages, but they're very huffy-puffy now.

Conceiçao cuts in from the right wing, before drifting over an inswinger with his left.

DR Congo deal with it - just as they do a moment later, when Cancelo also crosses.

DR Congo's Yoane Wissa celebrates his equalizer at the end of the first half in Houston.

When the throw-in is sent high into the Portugal box, Bakambu heads it on to the back post, where Kapuadi is waiting.

Kapuadi has plenty of company, though, and can't find the space to get enough power on his header. It drops wide.

Wissa brings the ball forward for DR Congo, before releasing it left to Sadiki.

Sadiki is quickly closed down by two men, but wins a throw-in.

Naff all. Wissa heads it away, before Cancelo turns it back into the box. His delivery bounces behind for a goal-kick.

Mendes is back up, and Portugal are on the attack.

On the right, Conceiçao wins a corner. What can the Seleçao do with this one?

Nuno Mendes is now down and, apparently, in some pain. He fell to the turf after a robust challenge by Wan-Bissaka.

A first change for DR Congo. Mukau is off, with Sadiki on.

Now Bakambu hits the post! But he, too, had been penalized and it wouldn't have counted.

Bakambu muscles Fernandes off the ball inside the Portugal box, before wrapping his boot around a shot from an angle. It pings back off the upright, but Fernandes' pleas for a foul were heard. The referee gives the Portuguese a free-kick and they can clear.

Cancelo has the ball in the net with a lovely, acrobatic volley - but it won't count!

At the back post, Neves chests down a left-wing delivery right into Cancelo's path. The fullback somehow hooks the ball over his shoulder and into the net, but he was clearly offside.

1-1 it remains in Houston.

When Portugal get Nuno Mendes involved in their attacks, they're at their most dangerous.

It's nice build-up play here: Vitinha touches it into Ronaldo, who plays it on to Mendes' run into the box. Mendes quickly prods it across the face of goal, where Joao Neves is waiting... but is crowded out!

For Portugal, Neto delivers a corner kick from the right. It's not a good delivery.

DR Congo have clearly been spurred on by that leveller at the end of the first half. They look very confident right now.

On the right, Wan-Bissaka touches the ball inside to Bakambu. He, in turn, spins and shoots from the right-hand side of the penalty box. It's a decent ping, alright - and Costa has to look alive to parry. But the flag was up against Bakambu.

Right away, DR Congo get Wan-Bissaka charging forward down the right. He can't deliver a cross, though.

At the other end, Neto clips over a lovely cross to the back stick. Straining to meet the delivery, Conceiçao flops to the turf under Masuaku's challenge, and wants a penalty. He doesn't get one.

Wissa emulates Cahill

Yoane Wissa is the first Premier League player to score his country's first ever men's World Cup goal since 2006.

Peeeep! We're back underway at NRG Stadium.

Portugal boss Roberto Martínez has opted to take off Bernardo Silva and throw on Francisco Conceiçao.

Players emerging from the locker rooms

The Portuguese and Congolese players are making their way back out onto the field in Houston. Second half imminent.

Portugal are preparing a change.

World Cup 2026

Is this Cristiano Ronaldo’s last World Cup? Will he play in 2030?

Some half-time reading for you: We consider whether Ronaldo could possibly keep going for a seventh World Cup in 2030, what with it being played on home soil in Portugal.

The short answer is: no, not likely. The long answer is in this article.

Yoane Wissa (No. 20) heads in DR Congo's leveller in stoppage time of the first half.

This is exactly why football - sorry, soccer - is so bloody brilliant. What looked like being a stroll for Portugal has become very much not a stroll for Portugal.

Who knows what the second half has in store.

Peeep peeep peep! And that was the final action of the first half in Houston.

What, initially, looked like it might be a thumping is now anything but. All square at the break.

Mbemba is now down, having turned his ankle. He looks in some pain - but is soon back on his feet. And...

That's a better effort from Moutoussamy! It's probably the best attack DR Congo have created so far.

When Bernardo Silva miscontrols, the Léopards set off on a quick break, with Portugal backpedalling.

From the left wing, Masuaku fizzes it low to Moutoussamy at the top of the box - whence the midfielder sends a left-footed strike just off target!

Four minutes of time added on in Texas.

DR Congo's Moutoussamy tries his luck from range - but he's going to do rather more than that to score from there. His shot is blocked.

Bernardo Silva drives towards the DR Congo box, but can't find a way through. 

The Portuguese work it back to Neves, but his pass is blocked.

Closing in on half time in Houston.

After Neves' early goal, it looked like it could be a cricket score by the break. But DR Congo have got a hold of themselves.

DR Congo's Yoane Wissa (left) is challenged by Portugal's Bernardo Silva at Houston's NRG Stadium.

Veiga pings a long, raking pass over to Cancelo on the right wing. Cancelo has already shown he can deliver a dangerous cross. Can he supply another?

Nope. Masuaku does very well to close his man down - and, indeed, buys a foul off him. Free-kick to DR Congo, who can clear.

A moment later, though, DR Congo almost let Neves in for his second.

The ball is fed left to Mendes, who has again charged forward with malicious intent. Mendes pings a quick, first-time ball into the middle towards Neves' run into the area.

Had he been able to collect, he'd have been in on Mpasi... but Mendes' cross is juuuust intercepted.

Oooh, that's a shame. Bakambu spins in the center circle and spies Wissa's forward surge.

He needs no second invitation to try to locate his teammate's run, but his pass is cut out. That was a promising attack for the Congolese.

Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo in action during this afternoon's game in Houston.

That's bright play by Kayembe for DR Congo, but he can't trouble Costa.

Surging forward down the center of the field, Kayembe advances into shooting space, some 25 to 30 yards out. He puts plenty behind his effort, but it takes a nick off a defender's boot and loops up into the goalkeeper's arms.

Mendes delivers, but DR Congo deal with it.

Mbemba is booked after flying into an aerial tussle with Neto, perhaps a little too enthusiastically.

Portugal can swing in a free-kick from the left. Mendes to take.

Portugal do nowt all with the corner, but the ball is immediately in possession of the Seleçao's midfield and they pinning the Congolese back once more.

Portugal work it right to Cancelo, who fizzes a lovely little ball right down the corridor of uncertainty - between the Congolese defensive line and the goalkeeper, and out of reach of both.

But Ronaldo doesn't quite react quickly enough, and Cancelo's fine pass flies across the box and behind for a goal-kick. It was a delicious delivery, it really was.

Portugal immediately release Neto into space on the left.

He's well placed to roll it into the middle to meet Ronaldo's run into the box, but Mbemba is perfectly positioned. He cuts it out.

We're back underway.

World Cup 2026

How do hydration breaks work during the 2026 World Cup and how long do they last?

Should you wish to know more about the ‘hydration break’, let me point you in the direction of this piece by my colleague Roddy Cons.

And that's time for the game's first water break.

After a fairly frenetic first 20 or so, we've just hit a bit of a lull.

Portugal happy to plop it about without going for the jugular.

Portugal's players celebrate Joao Neves' goal in Houston.

Nuno Mendes is such a menace on the left wing. In the blink of an eye, Portugal get the PSG fullback flying forward, cutting the Congolese defense in two.

Mendes advances into the box, but - with a gaggle of defenders also giving chase - Mpasi is out to smother the ball. 

The loose ball then falls to Bruno Fernandes, who scuffs a left-footed shot past the far post.

This won't end 1-0, one rather suspects.

At the other end, Portugal look like they're in a position to inflict pain on the Congolese defense, when Ronaldo leads an attack down the left. But Neto miscontrols and the chance is lost.

That's certainly much better from DR Congo. This time its Bakambu who threatens Costa's goal.

Picking up the ball 30 yards out, he turns and sets off towards the Portugal box. Jinking over an outstretched Portuguese leg, he gets plenty of welly behind his shot. It doesn't beat Costa - Araújo gets in the way - but that's far more encouraging for the Léopards.

Bernardo Silva becomes the first player to go into the referee's notebook, for an overzealous challenge on Kayembe.

Ronaldo is quickly over to argue the point with the ref, but it looked like a pretty textbook yellow to me.

Well, that's slightly more encouraging for DR Congo.

Collecting the ball in the right-hand channel, Wissa wraps his left boot around a fierce shot from 25 yards or so out. It flies a couple of yards wide, though.

Ronaldo's World Cup record

Ronaldo isn't the oldest outfield player to appear at a men's World Cup: as I mentioned earlier in this feed, that's Cameroon's Roger Milla.

But, as Opta point out, the Portugal skipper has become the oldest outfield player to start a game.

Right away, Portugal are pinning DR Congo back and hunting a second.

This, on the evidence of the first eight minutes, is going to be a long afternoon for the Africans.

Just as I was about to say DR Congo had their first moment of sustained possession of the ball, Wissa gives it away cheaply on the halfway line.

Portugal push the Léopards back once more, and...

Back come Portugal, working to Ronaldo in the left-hand channel.

The decibels rise appreciably as he stepovers his way towards the Congolese box... but he finally turns backwards. Portugal recycle.

It is very much all Portugal ball in the first few minutes. DR Congo camped on the edge of their penalty area.

For a moment, Neto thinks he's got space to cut into the area and shoot, but his way to goal is blocked.

Peeeep! We're underway in Houston.

Your final reminder of the DR Congo XI:

A last look at the Portugal lineup:

Who is the referee? Who is the VAR?

The match referee in Houston will be Qatar's Abdulrahman Al-Jassim.

His video assistant referee will also be Qatari: Khamis Al Marri is on VAR duty.

What the coaches said: Roberto Martínez

Teams out in Houston!

The Portugal and DR Congo players are both out on the pitch at NRG Stadium. Kickoff is minutes away.

Before then, it's anthem time. Portugal first.

At a glance: Portugal's recent form

Last five results

Jun. 10: Portugal 2-1 Nigeria, friendly
Jun. 6: Portugal 2-1 Chile, friendly
Mar. 31: USMNT 0-2 Portugal, friendly
Mar. 28: Mexico 0-0 Portugal, friendly
Nov. 16: Portugal 9-1 Armenia, WCQ

What has Portugal's form been like?

Portugal, by the way, head into the World Cup on a run of nine wins in 13 games; 10 if you include penalty shootouts. That Ireland defeat, was the team's sole loss in the last 15 months.

It's a sequence that included victory over Spain in the UEFA Nations League final in June last year.

The Portuguese rounded off their World Cup preparations with a pair of 2-1 victories earlier this month, over Chile and Nigeria.

What the coaches said: Sébastien Desabre

By the way: Yes, I'm aware that a Zaire player, Mwepu Ilunga, became an instant star of World Cup gaffes reels in 1974, for charging out of the defensive wall and booting away a Brazil free-kick before it had been taken.

But, honestly, I don't want to dwell on it beyond this post. I don't think it's fair to reduce a national team's long history to one admittedly bizarre moment.

And, as Nick Miller writes in this piece for the Athletic, it's not simply a case of Ilunga not knowing the rules. The background to that moment is “a dark, sad and overall pretty confusing one”, Miller explains.

Ilunga has since said he had been driven to distraction amid intense pressure from the Zairean regime over the team's World Cup displays.

“We are moving forward”

Lumumba Vea had failed to get a visa to go to Mexico for DR Congo's inter-confederation playoff earlier this year.

But with the help of the players - and even the Congolese president, Félix Tshisekedi - he was added to the team’s official travelling delegation for this summer's World Cup.

This, apparently, has helped him to secure the paperwork he needed to get into the U.S.

DR Congo superfan set to cheer Léopards on

Michel Nkuka Mboladinga, a DR Congo fan who has gone viral for his support of the Léopards, is set to be on hand to cheer on Sébastien Desabre's team in North America.

Better known as Lumumba Vea, Nkuka Mboladinga has become an instantly recognisable sight for the pose he strikes throughout DR Congo's games. Dapperly dressed, he can be seen standing bolt upright on a pedestal - in statuesque fashion - with an arm raised into the air.

World Cup 2026

DR Congo’s wild World Cup arrival: quarantine rules, leopard suits, and a team fighting the odds

The Léopards' World Cup preparations were hit by the recent Ebola outbreak affecting parts of DR Congo and Uganda.

To be allowed to enter the U.S., any players or staff who had been in DR Congo recently had to quarantine for 21 days first.

Fortunately, all of the squad are based outside of the country, mostly in Europe - but several backroom team members have missed out on the trip.

Read more on DR Congo's World Cup preparations in this piece by my colleague Artiz Gabilondo.

At a glance: DR Congo's recent form

The Léopards' last five results:

Jun. 9: DR Congo 1-2 Chile, friendly
Jun. 3: DR Congo 0-0 Denmark, friendly
Mar. 31: DR Congo 1-0 Jamaica, WCQ
Mar. 25 DR Congo 2-0 Bermuda, friendly
Jan. 6: Algeria 1-0 DR Congo, AFCON

Opta optimistic of DR Congo chances

And Opta's World Cup simulations give DR Congo somewhere between a one-in-three and a one-in-two chance of nabbing a knockout-phase ticket.

The soccer stats specialists ratethe Léopards’s prospects of progression from the group at a far from unhealthy 41.65%.

Can the Congolese crack the knockouts?

But in 2026, DR Congo head to North America with what seems like a realistic chance of a knockout-stage berth - not least because third place may be worth a spot in the last 32.

At 45 in the world, the Léopards are the third-highest ranked team in the group - five ahead of Uzbekistan - and are the bookmakers' third favorites in the section, in front of the Uzbeks.

DR Congo have +2000 moneyline odds of winning Group K, with Uzbekistan trailing on +3300.

DR Congo out to open World Cup goal account

Having lost all three games as Zaire in 1974, DR Congo are not only chasing the national team's first World Cup win - they're chasing its first goal at the tournament.

In West Germany in ’74, Zaire conceded 14 without reply. They suffered 2-0 and 3-0 defeats to Scotland and Brazil, respectively, either side of a 9-0 shellacking by Yugoslavia

World Cup 2026

Why does Aaron Wan-Bissaka play for DR Congo and not England at World Cup 2026?

In this article, my colleague Roddy Cons throws his spotlight onto one of those men: West Ham's London-born Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who played for England’s Under-21s before committing to DR Congo.

Seb's stars

Under the Frenchman Sébastian Desabre, who took over as head coach in 2022, DR Congo head to North America with several players who have made a name for themselves in the European club game.

They include two former Manchester United men in Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Axel Tuanzebe. Lille's Chancel Mbemba, Newcastle’s Yoane Wissa, Sunderland’s Noah Sadiki and Real Betis’s Cédric Bakambu are also Congolese stars who have established themselves on the Old Continent.

Léopards see off African giants

That playoff win in Mexico came after a somewhat lengthy African qualification process. 

Sébastien Desabre's men missed out on an automatic World Cup berth when they finished second to Senegal in CAF Group B - a round-robin section that involved playing 10 games each. 

That sent DR Congo into a four-way knockout fight for Africa’s single inter-confederation playoff berth.

Cameroon and Nigeria are probably Africa’s best known World Cup teams, but the Congolese dispensed with both to secure their playoff matchup with Jamaica.
 

How did DR Congo qualify for the 2026 World Cup?

The Congolese ended their 52-year wait for a World Cup return by winning an inter-confederation playoff in March.

The Léopards beat Jamaica 1-0 in Guadalajara, thanks to an extra-time strike by defender Axel Tuanzebe.

Trio of changes for Congolese

Desabre makes three changes to the team that started DR Congo's final tournament tune-up, against Chile eight days ago.

Steve Kapuadi, Arthur Masuaku and Cédric Bakambu are in for the Congolese in Houston, with Noah Sadiki, Theo Bongonda and Nathanael Mbuku making way.

DR Congo lineup confirmed

Ahead of the Léopards' first World Cup game in more than 50 years, DR Congo boss Sébastian Desabre has named his lineup: Mpasi, Wan-Bissaka, Kapuadi, Tuanzebe, Mbemba, Masuaku, Mukau, Moutoussamy, Kayembe, Bakambu, Wissa.

Silva follows Cucu to Madrid

Silva's signing is the second announced by Real Madrid this week.

On Monday, the 15-time European champions confirmed a deal for Spain left-back Marc Cucurella, who joins from Chelsea on a six-year deal, for a transfer fee believed to be about €55 million ($63.7 million).

Real Madrid

Bernardo Silva joins Real Madrid: how Mourinho’s personal call seals stunning free transfer coup

For the full lowdown on Bernardo Silva's move to the Bernabéu, check out this piece by my colleagues Sergio López and Calum Roche.

Silva starts after Real deal

Bernardo Silva starts for Portugal on the day that Real Madrid confirmed he'll be joining the LaLiga giants.

Silva, who left Manchester City after nine seasons at the Etihad Stadium this summer, is to sign Madrid on a two-year deal, Los Blancos said today.

Ronnie just behind Roger

By the way, Ronaldo will also become the second oldest outfield player to appear at a men's World Cup.

The only player ahead of him is Roger Milla; the Cameroonian was 42 years and 39 days old when he played for the Indomitable Lions against Russia in 1994.

Portugal fans pose for photographs ahead of today's match in Houston.

Roberto rings the changes

Roberto Martínez makes five changes to the team that beat Nigeria in Portugal's final World Cup warm-up last week.

João Cancelo, Tomás Araújo, Renato Veiga, Nuno Mendes and Bernardo Silva all come into the team.

Among the players who drop out of the lineup is Manchester City center back Rúben Dias, who picked up a knock against the Super Eagles.

Portugal lineup confirmed

Well, it's official now. Ronaldo will become the second play to appear at six men's World Cups.

Roberto Martínez has named the following starting lineup against DR Congo: Costa, Cancelo, Araujo, Veiga, Nuno Mendes, Neves, Vitinha, Fernandes, Silva, Neto, Ronaldo.

World Cup 2026

Is this Cristiano Ronaldo’s last World Cup? Will he play in 2030?

Given that the 2030 tournament is going to be a home World Cup for Ronaldo, that got us wondering: might he even try and hold on until he's 45, and go to an unprecedented seventh finals?

Spoiler: it’s unlikely.

Read more.

CR7 to join World Cup's golden oldies

Ronaldo is also set to become the fourth oldest player ever to make an appearance at a World Cup.

Aged 41 years and 132 days old (I make it), he can today overtake Northern Irish goalkeeper Pat Jennings in the all-time standings.

Jennings was 41 precisely when he played against Brazil in the final round of group games at the 1986 World Cup.

World Cup 2026

Portugal’s World Cup puzzle: world-class talent, pressure and the Ronaldo conundrum

In this article, my AS colleague Roddy Cons has more on the Portuguese puzzle of fitting a 40-something Ronaldo into the Seleção's team.

CR7 set to equal Messi's new record

Whether, at the age of 41, Ronaldo is now an asset or an impediment to the Seleção is a matter for debate. The World Cup expert Jonathan Wilson has, for example, written in The Guardian that he “will probably end up hampering Portugal”. 

Wilson adds: “He lumbers about in an increasingly small sphere of influence, still decent in the air, still a good finisher, but barely able to move, lacking the explosive power that once made him great.”

Either way, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner is poised to play at his sixth men's World Cup, equalling the appearance record set by Argentina's Lionel Messi just yesterday.

Like Messi, Ronaldo first featured at the World Cup back in 2006. He has eight goals across his five tournaments so far.

Cristiano cleared to play despite Ireland red

Although a dismissal for violent conduct normally brings with it a three-match ban - which would have ruled Ronaldo out of today’s game - FIFA opted to suspend the second and third game of the forward's punishment.

In a statement in November, FIFA said: "If Cristiano Ronaldo commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension set out in the disciplinary decision shall be deemed automatically revoked and the remaining two matches must be served immediately."

Ronaldo served the non-suspended part of his ban in Portugal’s final World Cup qualifier, against Armenia three days after the Ireland loss.
 

How did Portugal qualify for the 2026 World Cup?

Portugal have not missed a World Cup this century - and maintained that run by topping UEFA qualifying Group F last autumn.

They finished three points ahead of the Republic of Ireland, winning four games out of six. 

Portugal's sole qualifying defeat came against the Irish: a 2-0 defeat in Dubin in November. Memorably, this was a game in which Cristiano Ronaldo was shown a straight red card for elbowing Ireland defender Dara O'Shea.

That's the only time Ronaldo has ever been sent off in his (frankly ridiculous) 228 appearances for Portugal.

What do the bookies make of Portugal?

Portugal are the joint-fourth favorites in the betting.

At the moment, the Portuguese have moneyline odds of +800 to win the World Cup on July 19. France (+450), Spain (+500) and England (+700) are ahead of Martínez's men, with Argentina (+800) level pegging.

Anyway: to today’s action in Houston

Portugal, whose squad is stacked with talent, head to North America as one of the major frontrunners to lift the World Cup at MetLife Stadium in just over a month's time. I mean, just look at that midfield.

Opta’s ‘supercomputer’ has been running the simulations - and the soccer stats specialists have determined that Portugal have a 7.55% chance of winning their first ever world title.

That makes Roberto Martínez’s men, as things stand, the fifth favourite. Per Opta, Portugal are behind France (15.63%), Argentina (12.65%), Spain (12.21%) and England (9.81%).

World Cup 2026

Kylian Mbappé breaks France scoring record: How many goals has Mbappé scored?

Again courtesy of my colleague Will Gittins, you can read more about Mbappé's historic heroics here.

Magnificent Mbappé

It would be criminally remiss of me not to also doff my cap to two records broken by Kylian Mbappé yesterday.

With his double against the Senegalese, Mbappé overtook Olivier Giroud as the France men’s team’s highest ever goalscorer. He now has 58, to Giroud's 57.

And, as you can see in the all-timer ranking I posted just a moment ago, Mbappé now has 14 World Cup goals. That's also a French record: he has one more than Just Fontaine, who had been France’s leading scorer at the tournament since 1958.

World Cup 2026

Leo Messi scores stunning hat-trick to equal Miroslav Klose’s all-time World Cup scoring record

If you'd like to read more about Messi's magic display against Algeria, let me point you in the direction of this piece by my colleague Will Gittins.

What does the World Cup top scorers’ list look like now then?

Thanks to his maiden World Cup hat-trick, Messi has drawn level with Miroslav Klose's overall tournament haul of 16. That's a record that has stood since 2014.

Men's World Cup - all-time top scorers:

1. Miroslav Klose, Germany: 16
1. Lionel Messi, Argentina: 16
3. Ronaldo, Brazil: 15
4. Gerd Müller, West Germany: 14
4. Kylian Mbappé, France: 14

What happened yesterday? (ctd.)

Yesterday also saw Kylian Mbappé net a double as France began with a win: Les Bleus beat Senegal 3-1, turning it on after the break after a sluggish first half at MetLife Stadium.

And in between Mbappé and Messi's headline-grabbing contributions, a third World Cup A-lister also lit up Tuesday's play. On his World Cup debut, Erling Haaland hit a brace.as Norway beat Iraq 4-1 in Foxborough.

Elsewhere in Argentina’s group, meanwhile, Austria started with a 3-1 victory over World Cup debutants Jordan.
 

What happened yesterday at the World Cup?

Day six: well, that was all about the superstars.

Most notably, Lionel Messi plundered a hat-trick to give Argentina a 3-0 win over Algeria, as the Albiceleste kicked off its title defense with three points. That’s Messi’s first ever treble at a World Cup.

It was a three-goal haul that also saw the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner draw level with Germany’s Miroslav Klose as the leading scorer in men’s World Cup history.

Who else is in action today at the World Cup?

It's already day seven of the 2026 World Cup - and that means we’ve reached the final batch of matchday-one games.

After Portugal and DR Congo kick us off in Houston, Group L comes into play in Dallas, where England and Croatia meet at 4:00 p.m. ET.

Also in Group L, Ghana and Panama begin their World Cup campaigns in Toronto at 7:00 p.m. ET today.

Then it’s back to Group K: in Mexico City at 10:00 p.m. ET, Uzbekistan play their first ever men’s World Cup game, with Colombia the opposition.
 

What time is kickoff?

At NRG Stadium, the 72,000-capacity home of NFL team the Houston Texans, today's Group K clash kicks off in a little under two hours' time.

To be precise, the ball will get rolling at 1:00 p.m. ET/10:00 a.m. PT.

DR Congo end their 52-year World Cup wait

DR Congo are appearing at their first men's World Cup since 1974, when they weren't even known as DR Congo. In West Germany 52 years ago, the Léopards competed as Zaire.

Now, the Congolese are back - after eliminating some of Africa's biggest World Cup names during an arduous qualification campaign.

Portugal vs DR Congo: welcome!

Hello! Houston is the setting as Portugal, one of the pre-tournament favorites, begin the ninth men's World Cup campaign in their history.

Led by the Spaniard Roberto Martínez, the Portuguese are seeking a maiden global title to go with their sole European crown, won 10 years ago next month.

While the Seleção have become a veritable World Cup staple - this is their seventh straight tournament appearance - they’re facing a team that very much is not. Martínez's men open up Group K against the Democratic Republic of the Congo, who haven't been seen on soccer’s biggest stage for more than half a century.