Portugal made a disappointing start to its campaign, drawing 1-1 with the Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Houston. The result was a letdown for a team widely viewed as a World Cup contender and led by Cristiano Ronaldo, who had a poor match and struggled to influence play.
The Portuguese started well and took the lead in the 6th minute. Pedro Neto surged down the wing and delivered a precise cross for Joao Neves, who powered a header into the net with a strong leap. Portugal then failed to build on the early advantage, and Congo, described as African outsiders, stayed in the game.
Just before halftime, Yoane Wissa equalized for Congo. Left unmarked in the box, he headed in from close range to secure what the article called a historic point for the Africans. Portugal could not regain control after the break.
In the second half, the Selecao created almost nothing of note, aside from two close-range chances wasted by Ronaldo. Bruno Fernandes tried a late effort from distance, but missed the post by a narrow margin. Portugal will next face Uzbekistan, where it will be expected to show a much stronger performance and prove this was only a one-off setback.
