Portugal’s opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup ended in frustration as they were held to a 1-1 draw by the Democratic Republic of Congo in Group K, despite Cristiano Ronaldo making history with another milestone appearance.
Roberto Martinez’s men arrived at the NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, hoping to begin their campaign with a convincing victory. Instead, the former European champions were forced to settle for a share of the spoils after DR Congo battled back to cancel out Portugal’s early lead.
The Portuguese side made an encouraging start and needed only six minutes to break the deadlock.
Midfielder Joao Neves found space inside the penalty area and guided a header into the net, giving his team the advantage and raising hopes of a comfortable evening.
However, the goal failed to spark Portugal into full control. Although they dominated possession throughout much of the first half and enjoyed around 80 percent of the ball, clear scoring opportunities remained scarce.
Their inability to extend the lead proved costly moments before halftime. DR Congo capitalised on a defensive lapse when Yoane Wissa was left unattended from a wide free-kick.
The forward rose highest to power a header beyond goalkeeper Diogo Costa, restoring parity and sending both teams into the dressing room level.
Seeking a stronger response after the break, Martinez urged his players to increase the tempo and introduced Francisco Conceicao to add energy on the right flank.
The substitution immediately brought greater attacking intent. Conceicao twice created promising openings for Ronaldo with dangerous cut-backs into the area, but the veteran striker was unable to find the finishing touch.
Ronaldo nevertheless etched his name further into football history by becoming the oldest outfield player to appear at a FIFA World Cup.
Yet the landmark occasion was not accompanied by the victory Portugal desired.
Portugal believed they had regained the lead midway through the second half when Joao Cancelo found the back of the net after connecting with a knockdown from Joao Neves following an excellent Bruno Fernandes delivery.
Celebrations were short-lived, however, as the goal was ruled out for offside.
With the clock ticking down, Martinez turned to Goncalo Ramos, remembered for scoring three goals after coming off the bench at the previous World Cup.
The Portuguese coach also reshaped his side into an adventurous 4-2-4 formation in a final push for victory.
The closing stages saw Portugal throw numbers forward in search of a decisive goal, but DR Congo remained organised and resilient at the back.
Their disciplined defensive display frustrated the tournament favourites and ensured they claimed a valuable point from their opening group encounter.
Portugal will continue their Group K campaign in Houston when they face Uzbekistan before wrapping up the first round against Colombia. Martinez will be hoping for a more clinical performance from his side as they chase qualification for the knockout stages.
