Omanghana
The Democratic Republic of Congo delivered a remarkable performance to hold Portugal to a 1-1 draw in their opening Group K match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, earning a historic result at NRG Stadium in Houston.
Portugal made an ideal start and opened the scoring in the sixth minute. Midfielder João Neves rose above the Congolese defense to head home a precise cross from Pedro Neto, giving Roberto Martínez’s side an early advantage.
Despite Portugal dominating possession for much of the first half, DR Congo refused to be overwhelmed. Their persistence paid off deep into first-half stoppage time when Yoane Wissa capitalized on poor marking during a corner kick, powering a header into the net from Arthur Masuaku’s well-delivered cross to level the score at 1-1.
Portugal believed they had regained the lead shortly after halftime when João Cancelo produced an acrobatic overhead kick that found the back of the net in the 52nd minute. However, a VAR review ruled the goal out for offside, keeping the match level.
DR Congo nearly completed an unforgettable upset in the 75th minute. Veteran striker Cédric Bakambu broke free from his marker and unleashed a powerful effort that struck the near post, narrowly missing what would have been the winning goal.
The match also marked a historic milestone for Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo, who made his sixth FIFA World Cup appearance and became the oldest outfield player ever to start a World Cup match at 41 years and 132 days. However, the veteran forward endured a frustrating afternoon as the disciplined Congolese defense limited his influence, and he failed to convert two promising opportunities in the second half.
Although Portugal controlled approximately 75 percent of possession and completed more than 700 accurate passes, they struggled to create clear-cut chances and managed only three shots on target. Their inability to capitalize on territorial dominance proved costly against a resilient DR Congo side.
The result leaves Portugal with work to do in Group K following Argentina’s opening victory over Algeria, increasing the importance of their upcoming fixtures against Uzbekistan and Colombia. Meanwhile, DR Congo can celebrate a landmark achievement in their World Cup history as they prepare for their next group-stage encounter against Colombia with renewed confidence.
Source: Omanghana
