Portugal open their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign against DR Congo in Group K on Wednesday, 17 June 2026 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. Kick-off is at 19:00 WAT (Nigeria time). This is another massive game for African football fans. DR Congo make only their second-ever World Cup appearance, ending a 52-year absence from the tournament. Meanwhile, Portugal arrive as one of the most talented squads in the competition, led by the legendary Cristiano Ronaldo in what is widely expected to be his final World Cup.
Furthermore, Bruno Fernandes comes into this tournament on the back of one of the best individual seasons in Premier League history — claiming a record-breaking 21 assists in the 2025/26 campaign. In addition, PSG quartet Nuno Mendes, Vitinha, Joao Neves, and Goncalo Ramos arrive full of confidence having just won the UEFA Champions League. As a result, Portugal have genuine belief that this could finally be the year they go all the way to the World Cup title.
Match Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Competition | FIFA World Cup 2026 — Group K, Matchday 1 |
| Date | Wednesday, 17 June 2026 |
| Kick-off | 19:00 WAT | 18:00 BST | 13:00 ET |
| Venue | NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas, USA |
| Group K Teams | Portugal, DR Congo, Colombia, Uzbekistan |
Portugal — Team Overview
Portugal arrive under coach Roberto Martinez with arguably the best midfield in the entire tournament. Vitinha, Joao Neves, and Bruno Fernandes form a midfield trio that combines creativity, pressing, and goalscoring. Moreover, Ronaldo at 41 still leads the line with the kind of goal-scoring record that no other player in history can match — 143 international goals across 227 appearances.
Portugal’s recent competitive form is outstanding. They scored an average of 3.33 goals per game in their qualifying campaign and controlled possession in 71.3% of their matches. Furthermore, their squad depth means Martinez can rotate heavily without losing quality. Consequently, Portugal look well-equipped to go deep in this tournament.
DR Congo — Team Overview
DR Congo are back at the World Cup for the first time since 1974 — a 52-year wait that ends in the heat of Houston, Texas. Their qualification campaign was historic for Congolese football. Moreover, Axel Tuanzebe — the former Manchester United defender — headed home the goal that sealed their place at the finals. As a result, the DR Congo squad carry enormous national pride into every match.
Their squad features several familiar names for Premier League fans. Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Axel Tuanzebe, Arthur Masuaku, and Yoane Wissa all play in England. Furthermore, Gael Kakuta and Meschak Elia provide pace and creativity in attacking areas. DR Congo’s defensive resilience is their greatest asset — they conceded just nine goals in 16 qualifying matches and kept nine clean sheets. Therefore, Portugal will need to be patient and precise to break them down.
Key Players
| Team | Player | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Portugal | Cristiano Ronaldo | 41 years old — 143 international goals, his sixth World Cup |
| Portugal | Bruno Fernandes | Record 21 PL assists in 2025/26 — Portugal’s creative engine |
| Portugal | Joao Neves | PSG — UCL winner — dominant in midfield pressing |
| DR Congo | Yoane Wissa | Brentford striker — pace and clinical finishing |
| DR Congo | Aaron Wan-Bissaka | West Ham right-back — defensive anchor for Congo |
| DR Congo | Meschak Elia | Union Berlin — pacy winger who can hurt any defence |
Predicted Lineups
Portugal (4-3-3)
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | D. Costa |
| Right Back | J. Cancelo |
| Centre Back | R. Dias |
| Centre Back | A. Silva |
| Left Back | N. Mendes |
| Central Mid | Vitinha |
| Central Mid | J. Neves |
| Central Mid | B. Fernandes |
| Right Wing | B. Silva |
| Striker | C. Ronaldo (C) |
| Left Wing | R. Leao |
DR Congo (4-2-3-1)
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | L. Mpasi |
| Right Back | A. Wan-Bissaka |
| Centre Back | A. Tuanzebe |
| Centre Back | C. Mbemba (C) |
| Left Back | A. Masuaku |
| Defensive Mid | S. Moutoussamy |
| Defensive Mid | E. Kayembe |
| Right Wing | M. Elia |
| Attacking Mid | G. Kakuta |
| Left Wing | N. Mbuku |
| Striker | Y. Wissa |
Head-to-Head Record
Portugal and DR Congo have never met before in a competitive or friendly international match. This will be the first documented encounter between the two nations. Therefore, there is no head-to-head history to analyse. However, Portugal’s record against African opposition at World Cups is strong — making them clear favourites.
Where to Watch in Nigeria
Fans in Nigeria can watch Portugal vs DR Congo live on SuperSport via DStv. Kick-off is at a very Nigeria-friendly time of 19:00 WAT — 7 PM in the evening. This is the best kick-off time of the day for Nigerian fans. Furthermore, the DStv app allows streaming on any device.
Our Prediction
Portugal are heavy favourites and the stats support that view. They score goals for fun, control possession, and have the quality to break down even well-organised defences. However, DR Congo’s defensive record in qualifying is genuinely impressive. Furthermore, the heat and humidity in Houston could affect both teams in the early stages.
Nevertheless, Portugal’s midfield — particularly Fernandes and Joao Neves — should eventually create enough openings. Ronaldo will be desperate to score on his sixth World Cup appearance. As a result, we expect Portugal to win comfortably, though DR Congo may get a goal of their own.
Multiple analysts, including WinDrawWin, predict both teams to score and over 2.5 goals. Moreover, Forebet’s mathematical model gives Portugal a 59% probability of winning, with a predicted scoreline of 2-0.
Soccer Scoop NG Prediction: Portugal 3-1 DR Congo
