Portugal were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by DR Congo in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at NRG Stadium in Houston.
Joao Neves gave Portugal a dream start in the 6th minute when he rose highest to head home Pedro Neto’s cross from the left. The early goal looked to have set the tone for a comfortable evening, but DR Congo grew into the game and found a deserved equaliser deep into first-half stoppage time. Arthur Masuaku delivered a dangerous cross from the right, and Yoane Wissa rose unmarked to glance a header past Diogo Costa.
Cristiano Ronaldo endured a difficult night and was largely kept quiet by DR Congo’s organised defence. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner saw very little of the ball inside the box and failed to test the goalkeeper with the limited opportunities that came his way.
Portugal tried to regain control in the second half and introduced fresh attacking options, including Francisco Conceicao, Rafael Leão, and Gonçalo Ramos. However, they struggled to break down a resilient DR Congo side. A spectacular overhead kick from Joao Cancelo was disallowed for offside, while late efforts from Ronaldo and others failed to find the target.
The result leaves Portugal with work to do in their remaining group matches, while DR Congo will take immense confidence from holding one of the tournament favourites.
