Portugal’s World Cup 2026 campaign got off to a shaky, ultimately disappointing start on Wednesday, as the Democratic Republic of Congo held them to a 1-1 draw in a Group K clash at NRG Stadium, Houston. It was a result that left Roberto Martinez’s side with serious questions to answer, none more pressing than the future role of Cristiano Ronaldo in what is his record-equalling sixth World Cup appearance.
The match began in the most encouraging fashion for Portugal. Just six minutes in, midfielder Joao Neves powered home a precise header from Pedro Neto’s pinpoint cross to give the European giants the lead. In those opening exchanges, Portugal had dominated possession to a staggering degree, completing 84 passes to DR Congo’s 12 in an opening sequence that suggested the African debutants would have a long evening ahead. It seemed like the perfect platform from which to build a commanding World Cup victory.
Despite controlling the ball, Portugal lacked the cutting edge to put the game beyond DR Congo, and DR Congo grew into the contest as the game progressed. Just before the break, their persistence and belief were rewarded in the most dramatic fashion. Newcastle United forward Yoane Wissa, rising unmarked in the penalty area, delivered a thunderous header past goalkeeper Diogo Costa to equalize.
The achievement was remarkable given the broader context. DR Congo was appearing at the World Cup for the first time since 1974, when the nation competed as Zaire. Their preparations had also been disrupted back home by an Ebola outbreak, making their composed and determined display all the more impressive. Coach Sébastien Desabre had spoken before the tournament of his players’ mental resilience, and in the match, they proved every word of it.
In the second half, Portugal pushed for a winner but were repeatedly thwarted by a disciplined Congolese backline that, at times, packed as many as six defenders behind the ball. Joao Cancelo thought he had stolen all three points when his acrobatic overhead kick found the net, but the celebrations were cut short as VAR confirmed an offside ruling. DR Congo then went close to themselves when veteran striker Cedric Bakambu shrugged off Bruno Fernandes and fired a shot that rattled the outside of the post.
The story of the night, however, was inevitably the performance of Cristiano Ronaldo. The 41-year-old forward, making history at his sixth World Cup, was largely a peripheral figure throughout. Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Erling Haaland had all delivered multigoal performances in the World Cup’s opening days, but Ronaldo could manage only three shot attempts, all off-target. His goalless run in major tournaments, including the World Cup and European Championships, now extends to 10 games.
After the match, Portugal head coach Martinez was measured in his assessment. “After the first goal, we didn’t reach the final third at the level we needed in order to provide service to the striker and make use of his movements,” the coach said. “What’s important is to reflect, evaluate, and make adjustments for the next match.”
For DR Congo’s goalscorer Wissa, the emotions ran far deeper. “I’m obviously very proud today because we’ve worked extremely hard,” he said. “Scoring our first goal is a huge source of pride because it reflects the character of this team.” It was a sentiment shared across a nation that had waited over half a century to celebrate a World Cup goal.
Meanwhile, the result left both teams with work to do in Group K. Portugal faces Uzbekistan in their next group-stage match, with pressure already mounting. DR Congo, meanwhile, will head into their remaining fixtures with renewed confidence after earning a historic point against one of Europe’s most celebrated footballing nations.
