Portugal vs DR Congo LIVE
Portugal opened their World Cup account with a 1-1 against the Democratic Republic of Congo at the NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. Roberto Martinez’s men were hoping for a statement victory to send a ripple through the bracket, but they were held by their stubborn African counterparts, who registered a maiden World Cup point.
Cristiano Ronaldo, likely playing in his final major tournament for his country, would have seen Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe’s exploits from the day previously and wanted to replicate them, but he spurned two chances in the second half as A Selecao were forced to settle for a point. Joao Neves got them off to the perfect start with a flicked header on six minutes, but they did not do anything else with their 80 per cent possession in the first half, and they were punished for it.
Newcastle United striker Yoane Wissa nodded an equaliser in first-half stoppage time after he was afforded a free header, and Sebastien Desbare’s side defended resolutely to hold out the Euro 2016 winners, who threw the kitchen sink at them in the dying embers.
Portugal vs DR Congo latest updates
- CLOSE! Ronaldo spurns chance
- OFF THE POST! Bakambu hits woodwork
- NO GOAL! Cancelo strike ruled out
- GOAL! Wissa nods home equaliser
- GOAL! Neves opens scoring
Also tonight!
20:04 , Oli Gent
England face Croatia in their World Cup opener this evening...
Portugal 1-1 DR Congo
20:04 , Oli Gent
Portugal were left disappointed as they opened their World Cup 2026 account with a 1-1 draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Roberto Martinez’s side were hoping to start their campaign with a statement victory that would have set the tone of Group K, but instead, Cristiano Ronaldo and co. were pegged back by Yoane Wissa’s equaliser in first-half stoppage time to cancel out Joao Neves’ early opener.
FT: Portugal 1-1 DR Congo
19:59 , Oli Gent
It ends level, and you'd have to say, a fair result!
Thanks for joining us on Standard Sport, be sure to come back very soon for even more LIVE World Cup action.
Portugal 1-1 DR Congo
19:56 , Oli Gent
90+2 mins: Wissa is stopped cynically and forcefully in his tracks by Araujo. Yellow card for the defender.
Portugal 1-1 DR Congo
19:55 , Oli Gent
90+1 min: Five added minutes.
Portugal 1-1 DR Congo
19:55 , Oli Gent
90 mins: Close! Fernandes thinks, ‘Sod this, I’m going alone’, setting up a shot with his left, but he drags it wide of the target.
Portugal 1-1 DR Congo
19:49 , Oli Gent
86 mins: Bakambu and Wan-Bissaka are off for Kalulu and Banzu.
Portugal 1-1 DR Congo
19:47 , Oli Gent
84 mins: Goncalo Ramos is on for Vitinha. 4-2-4 for the Portuguese now.
Portugal 1-1 DR Congo
19:46 , Oli Gent
82 mins: Time is tickintg away. The DR Congo have it, and they do still hold a threat going forward, but not crossing like that, from Kayembe.
Portugal 1-1 DR Congo
19:42 , Oli Gent
80 mins: Resolute defending from the DR Congo players as they close in on what would be a huge point. It’s kitchen sink time for Portugal.
Portugal 1-1 DR Congo
19:38 , Oli Gent
76 mins: Pickel and Kayembe are on for Kayembe and Masuaku for the DR Congo.
Portugal 1-1 DR Congo
19:38 , Oli Gent
74 mins: Close! Another one for Ronaldo goes begging. Again it’s worked down the right into Conceicao after good interplay, and he cuts it back once more for his captain, who can’t convert.
Portugal 1-1 DR Congo
19:35 , Oli Gent
72 mins: Leao is coming on for Portugal, as well as Semedo. Neto and Mendes make way.
Portugal 1-1 DR Congo
19:32 , Oli Gent
69 mins: Close! A first real chance of the game for Ronaldo, as Conceicao cuts it back, but it’s behind the striker, who can’t wrap his foot around it and guide it goalwards!
Portugal 1-1 DR Congo
19:31 , Oli Gent
67 mins: A few signs of Portuguese frustration after Kayembe takes out Neto, and then Mendes is felled. Veiga then comes together with Wissa too.
Portugal 1-1 DR Congo
19:26 , Oli Gent
63 mins: Over an hour played and we’re still level. Can either side find that elusive winner?
Portugal 1-1 DR Congo
19:21 , Oli Gent
58 mins: A first change for DR Congo as Sadiki replaces Mukau.
Portugal 1-1 DR Congo
19:21 , Oli Gent
57 mins: Off the post! A defensive mess from Veiga and Fernandes as Bakambu smashes the Portugal No8 out of the way, before firing a shot at goal, and it rattles the woodwork!
Portugal 1-1 DR Congo
19:19 , Oli Gent
54 mins: No goal! Cancelo thinks he’s regained the lead for Portugal, who are showing more ambition in attack. A lovely cross is chested down by Neves and forced home by the full-back, but the flag is up!
Portugal 1-1 DR Congo
19:15 , Oli Gent
51 mins: A bit more of a direct approach from the Portuguese, looking for the pace of Conceicao down the right. That’s an outlet that Silva doesn’t offer...
Portugal 1-1 DR Congo
19:12 , Oli Gent
48 mins: Martinez is looking to will his side forward on the attack. Neto loops a cross in for Conceicao at the far post, but he’s bundled over under challenge from Masuaku, but nothing doing.
Kick off
19:09 , Oli Gent
46 mins: Back underway. Bernardo Silva hs been replaced by Francisco Conceicao.
HT: Portugal 1-1 DR Congo
18:54 , Oli Gent
What an end to an otherwise drab first half.
Portugal had 80% possession, but the DR Congo had more attempts on goal.
What will the second half have in store?
Goal! Portugal 1-1 DR Congo
18:52 , Oli Gent
45+4 mins: The DR Congo are level, and it’s Wissa who’s got it! Slack defending from Portugal, and the Newcastle striker powers home a free header past Costa!
Portugal 1-0 DR Congo
18:47 , Oli Gent
45 mins: Four added minutes.
Portugal 1-0 DR Congo
18:42 , Oli Gent
41 mins: A good battle between Masuaku and Cancelo as both get physical and both hit the deck.
Portugal 1-0 DR Congo
18:39 , Oli Gent
38 mins: This is what most of this first half has been about. Portugal knocking it about with ease, and the DR Congo just trotting from side to side ahead of them.
Portugal 1-0 DR Congo
18:36 , Oli Gent
34 mins: A lowkey half besides the goal so far. Can the DR Congo find an equaliser, or can Portugal kill this game off?
Portugal 1-0 DR Congo
18:33 , Oli Gent
32 mins: Another yellow card, this time for DR Congo captain Mbemba, after he clatters Neto in the air.
Portugal 1-0 DR Congo
18:31 , Oli Gent
30 mins: Cancelo teases in a lovely ball into the position of maximum opportunity, but it’s just too far ahead of Ronaldo!
Portugal 1-0 DR Congo
18:29 , Oli Gent
29 mins: Neto breaks into space down the right, and he looks for Ronaldo in the middle. Mbemba slides across and cuts it out. Corner.
Portugal 1-0 DR Congo
18:28 , Oli Gent
27 mins: Back underway as Wan-Bissaka takes a DR Congo throw. Bakambu can’t make it stick, and Portugal have the ball once more.
Portugal 1-0 DR Congo
18:25 , Oli Gent
25 mins: The cooling break arrives, and time for the players to regroup. Portugal have the lead, and a chance for the two managers to get some instructions and feedback across.
Portugal 1-0 DR Congo
18:24 , Oli Gent
23 mins: There’s no pressure on the ball from the DR Congo players. It’s far too easy for Portugal to stroke it around at will. The crowd are getting restless.
Portugal 1-0 DR Congo
18:21 , Oli Gent
20 mins: This is better from Martinez’s men, back on the ball, but they’re not moving it very quickly. Instead, they’re moving it from side to side, looking to craft out an opening in this deep DR Congo block.
Portugal 1-0 DR Congo
18:18 , Oli Gent
17 mins: Sloppy from Portugal since they opened the scoring. The DR Congo have really got the bit between their teeth now as they look to play more expansively in search of an equaliser.
Portugal 1-0 DR Congo
18:15 , Oli Gent
15 mins: Corner, DR Congo. The African side have woken up and Bakambu drives at the heart of the Portugal defence. He skips away from Mendes and hits one, but it deflects off Araujo and behind.
Portugal 1-0 DR Congo
18:14 , Oli Gent
13 mins: Free kick, DR Congo. Bernardo Silva is shown a yellow card for a late challenge on Kayembe.
Portugal 1-0 DR Congo
18:12 , Oli Gent
11 mins: Close! Better from DR Congo as Wan-Bissaka gets involved and wraps it into the path of Wissa. He takes it in his stride and shoots, but it’s wide.
Portugal 1-0 DR Congo
18:10 , Oli Gent
9 mins: A goal that really knocks the stuffing out of DR Congo’s gameplan. They had sat back and invited the pressure, and they’ve been punished for it.
Goal! Portugal 1-0 DR Congo
18:08 , Oli Gent
6 mins: And there’s the opener, and it’s Joao Neves who glances home! A perfect start for Portugal, as the diminuative midfielder ghosts into the box and makes contact with a lovely Neto cross.
Portugal 0-0 DR Congo
18:07 , Oli Gent
5 mins: A good start from the Portuguese, knocking it around comfortably so far. They look hungry for goals early on.
Portugal 0-0 DR Congo
18:04 , Oli Gent
3 mins: Plenty of licence for Bernardo Silva to maraud into midfield, with Joao Cancelo looking to get high and wide on the right beyond him.
Kick off!
18:01 , Oli Gent
1 min: We’re underway.
Five minute warning
17:55 , Oli Gent
The players are out, and it’s time for the anthems.
Ten minutes to kick off!
17:52 , Oli Gent
Who will win this one?
Stat attack
17:41 , Oli Gent
- Portugal haven’t made it past the quarter-finals since finishing fourth 20 years ago. They won their qualifying group and have proved to be a tough team to beat, losing just two of their last 20 matches.
- Cristiano Ronaldo scored five goals in qualifying and heads into the tournament as the all-time international goalscorer with a staggering 143 goals on the board, eight of which have been scored at World Cups.
- Having scored in each of the 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022 editions, the Portuguese icon can now make more history by becoming the first ever player to score in six different World Cups.
- DR Congo are making their first World Cup appearance in 52 years dating back to 1974 when they competed as Zaire.
Stats via Squawka.
Kick off approaching
17:35 , Oli Gent
The clock is ticking down to kick off...
Here are the two teams once more for those that missed them:
Portugal XI: Costa; Cancelo, Araujo, Veiga, Mendes; Vitinha, Neves; Silva, Fernandes, Neto; Ronaldo
DR Congo XI: Mpasi; Wan-Bissaka, Tuanzebe, Mbemba, Kapaudi, Masuaku; Kayembe, Moutoussamy, Mukau; Wissa, Bakambu
Stadium in pictures!
17:27 , Oli Gent
The NRG Stadium is filling up ahead of this one...
NRG Stadium in pictures!
— Standard Sport (@standardsport) June 17, 2026
LIVE: https://t.co/wlqikeXPr2 #PORCOD | #FIFAWorldCup | #2026WorldCup pic.twitter.com/baY4BMWkdK
Also tonight!
17:20 , Oli Gent
England take on Croatia in their opening this evening.
Dom Smith is out in Texas, and has this to say ahead of tonight’s game.
Ronaldo's smashing those records too...
17:13 , Oli Gent
41 - Aged 41 years and 132 days, 🇵🇹 Cristiano Ronaldo is the oldest outfield player to start a match in FIFA World Cup history.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 17, 2026
Timeless. pic.twitter.com/HpjlY4PTs4
Record breaker
17:05 , Oli Gent
Ronaldo will have his eyes firmly set on repeating the feats of Mbappe and Messi last night.
Mbappe became his nation’s all-time leading scorer in the 3-1 win over Senegal.
Here’s how he did it...
Portugal XI analysed
16:57 , Oli Gent
An interesting lineup from Martinez, who goes with a couple of surprise picks.
Most would have expected Rafael Leao to feature off the left, but instead he has plumped for Pedro Neto of Chelsea.
In central defence are the two biggest surprises, with Tomas Araujo and Renato Veiga getting the nod over Ruben Dias, who isn’t fully fit, and Goncalo Inacio.
Otherwise, the other positions pick themselves. Two of the best full-backs in the world in Joao Cancelo and Nuno Mendes, as well as the most complete midfield trio at the tournament - Joao Neves and Vitinha, the Champions League winners, behind Premier League player of the season Bruno Fernandes.
DR Congo lineup
16:48 , Oli Gent
DR Congo XI: Mpasi; Wan-Bissaka, Tuanzebe, Mbemba, Kapaudi, Masuaku; Kayembe, Moutoussamy, Mukau; Wissa, Bakambu
Subs: Fayulu, Epolo, Batubinsika, Kayembe, Kalulu, Bongonda, Kakuta, Sadiki, Tshibola, Pickel, Mbuku, Cipenga, Elia, Mayele, Banza
Portugal lineup
16:45 , Oli Gent
Portugal XI: Costa; Cancelo, Araujo, Veiga, Mendes; Vitinha, Neves; Silva, Fernandes, Neto; Ronaldo
Subs: Sa, Silva, Semedo, Dias, Dalot, Inacio, Nunes, Neves, Samu, Ramos, Felix, Trincao, Leao, Guedes, Conceicao
Records smashed as stars eye top honour
16:37 , Oli Gent
Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi are locked in a serious battle to become the World Cup’s leading goalscorer ever, and both men starred for their countries on matchday one.
Mbappe netted a brace in the 3-1 win over Senegal for France, including a 30-yard screamer, while Messi notched a hat-trick in Argentina’s 3-0 decimation of Algeria.
Mbappe moved one step close to Miroslav Klose’s record on Tuesday, while also becoming France’s all-time top scorer in the process.
How are England's rivals faring?
16:30 , Oli Gent
England take on Croatia this evening, and they are one of the last teams to open their World Cup accounts.
Most of their rivals for the trophy have already played.
But how did they get on?
About last night...
16:29 , Oli Gent
Some of the world’s biggest names announced their arrivals at the World Cup in style last night... but who?
In years gone by...
16:24 , Oli Gent
Portugal at the #FIFAWorldCup 🇵🇹 pic.twitter.com/1fnYwUhVX4
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 17, 2026
Head to head
16:07 , Oli Gent
This will be the first time these two countries have played each other.
Standard Sport prediction
16:00 , Oli Gent
This should be a relatively straightforward victory for Portugal, but not all of the top sides have got off to perfect starts this summer.
Brazil and Spain have both dropped points already against lesser opposition, and Martinez’s side will be hoping that the same does not happen to them.
But with the sheer quality in their starting XI and throughout their ranks, they should coast past their African counterparts here.
Portugal to win, 3-0.
DR Congo team news
15:52 , Oli Gent
The DR Congo’s star players are also those from the Premier League.
Breakout Sunderland midfielder Noah Sadiki plays a key part in the engine room, while Chelsea fans might recognise Gael Kakuta’s name.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka is a shoo-in at right-back, while Yoane Wissa and Cedric Bakambu will battle it out to lead the line.
DR Congo squad
Goalkeepers: Matthieu Epolo, Timothy Fayulu, Lionel Mpasi
Defenders: Dylan Batubinsika, Gedoon Kalulu, Steve Kapuadi, Joris Kayembe, Arthur Masuaku, Chancel Mbemba, Axel Tuanzebe, Aaron Wan-Bissaka
Midfielders: Theo Bongonda, Brian Cipenga, Meshack Elia, Gael Kakuta, Edo Kayembe, Nathanael Mbuku, Samuel Moutoussamy, Ngal'ayel Mukau, Charles Pickel, Noah Sadiki, Aaron Tshibola
Forwards: Cedric Bakambu, Simon Banza, Fiston Mayele, Yoane Wissa.
Portugal team news
15:45 , Oli Gent
For the Portuguese, the main omissions from Martinez’s squad were predominantly Premier League-based.
The headlines were Tottenham midfielder Joao Palhinha and West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes, while Pedro Goncalves also did not make the plane.
Meanwhile, of the crop avaialble to the Spaniard, he has an embarrassment of riches to pick from, all across the pitch.
Portugal squad
Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa, Jose Sa, Rui Silva, Ricardo Velho
Defenders: Diogo Dalot, Matheus Nunes, Ruben Dias, Nelson Semedo, Joao Cancelo, Nuno Mendes, Goncalo Inacio, Renato Veiga, Tomas Araujo
Midfielders: Ruben Neves, Samu Costa, Joao Neves, Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva
Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo, Joao Felix, Francisco Trincao, Francisco Conceicao, Pedro Neto, Rafael Leao, Goncalo Guedes, Goncalo Ramos.
How to watch
15:40 , Oli Gent
TV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on BBC One, with coverage starting at 5.30pm BST.
Live stream: UK viewers can also catch the contest live online via BBC iPlayer app or the channel’s website.
Hello and welcome!
15:36 , Oli Gent
... to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Portgual vs DR Congo.
The Euro 2016 winners get their campaign underway this afternoon in Houston, Texas, looking to get off to the perfect start.
Stay tuned for all the updates, with kick off at 6pm BST.
