Portugal vs DR Congo | 2026 FIFA World Cup Group K | Wednesday, June 17 | 1PM EST | NRG Stadium | Houston
Portugal (-350) | Draw (+475) | DR Congo (+1000)
Over 2.5 Goals (-145) | Under 2.5 Goals (+115)
Portugal -1.5 (-125) | DR Congo +1.5 (-105)
Wednesday’s early game gives us our first look at one of the tournament’s contenders, as Portugal open their campaign against a DR Congo side returning after a 52-year absence. The Congolese booked their place via the inter-confederation playoffs, and this will be their first World Cup since 1974, when they competed as Zaire. It is a remarkable story of revival for a nation that has waited more than half a century to grace this stage again. Standing in their way is a Portugal side built around one of the game’s biggest icons.
Cristiano Ronaldo touched down with the squad on Friday, fully aware this is likely his last chance at World Cup glory. At 41 years old, he is set to join Lionel Messi as one of the first men ever to play at six World Cups, a feat no male player has managed before this summer.
Throughout the tournament, the squad will carry a tribute honoring the late Diogo Jota. Every Portugal player has been given a wristband bearing the names of the full squad alongside Jota’s, a gift from Portuguese prime minister Luís Montenegro. The bands were designed specifically to meet FIFA’s on-pitch regulations so they can be worn during matches, which the players have chosen to do. A quiet weight the squad will carry from the first whistle to the last.
PORTUGAL TEAM NEWS
Portugal navigated their warm-up games against Chile and Nigeria, both 2-1 victories, without picking up any injury concerns, arriving at the tournament with a fully fit squad. The only blemish was Rafael Leão’s red card for violent conduct after clashing with Chile’s Iván Román just before halftime. He served a one-game suspension for Portugal’s final warm-up against Nigeria and is available for the opening game.
Ronaldo will lead the line with Bernardo Silva and Leão providing attacking width. The midfield three of Fernandes, Neves and Vitinha will provide control and creativity, with Fernandes posing a goal threat from deep. Rúben Dias will marshal the defense alongside Sporting CP’s Gonçalo Inácio, with Cancelo and Mendes providing width at full-back.
Portugal Predicted Lineup 4-3-3
Manager: Roberto Martínez
GK: D. Costa
RB: J. Cancelo | CB: R. Dias | CB: G. Inácio | LB: N. Mendes
CM: B. Fernandes | CM: J. Neves | CM: Vitinha
RWF: B. Silva | CF: C. Ronaldo (C) | LWF: R. Leão
DR CONGO TEAM NEWS
DR Congo’s preparations for this tournament have been unlike almost any other side’s. With the country hit by an Ebola outbreak last month, US authorities required the squad to quarantine before granting them permission to enter the country. A planned training camp at home was abandoned, with the squad relocating to Belgium instead before flying into Houston via Paris. Whatever happens on the pitch, simply getting here has been an achievement in itself.
On the pitch, Chancel Mbemba captains the defensive line alongside Axel Tuanzebe. The Burnley defender sealed their place in North America with his first international goal in extra time against Jamaica. Aaron Wan-Bissaka starts at right-back with Arthur Masuaku on the opposite flank. All four bring Premier League experience.
Further forward, they will be hoping the Yoane Wissa who lit up the Premier League at Brentford in 2024/25 shows up at this tournament. The Newcastle striker has struggled for form and minutes this season, largely due to a knee injury picked up on international duty for DR Congo in early September 2025. If he cannot deliver his best form, DR Congo’s ability to threaten Portugal’s defense looks severely limited.
DR Congo Predicted Lineup 4-2-3-1
Manager: Sébastien Desabre
GK: L. Mpasi Nzau
RB: A. Wan-Bissaka | CB: C. Mbemba (C) | CB: A. Tuanzebe | LB: A. Masuaka
CM: N. Sadiki | CM: S. Moutoussamy
RMF: M. Elia | AMF: Y. Wissa | LMF: N. Mbuku
CF: C. Bakambu
MATCH BREAKDOWN
Let’s start by addressing the elephant in the room, Cristiano Ronaldo. The 41-year-old is arguably the most disciplined athlete in the world, consistently sticking to a regimented routine to maximize his physical ability.
Despite his dedication, Father Time remains undefeated and with all due respect he’s essentially a head on a stick at this time in his career. CR7 offers minimal to no defensive contribution, choosing to save his energy for attacking phases only. He sticks to the center of the pitch, relying on the wingers and full-backs to provide crosses for him to attack. In the early rounds against weaker opposition Portugal can mask his inadequacies. In the latter stages, against the top-tier opposition they will have to beat to win this trophy, those shortcomings will be exposed.
Maybe Roberto Martínez will surprise me and bench him for the more mobile Gonçalo Ramos. Personally, I don’t think Martínez is a strong enough personality to take Old Yeller out back and do what’s needed. With weaker opposition in DR Congo and Uzbekistan up first, it’s likely Ronaldo will perform, cementing his place for the Colombia game and knockout phase.
But none of that matters here. Everything I’ve just laid out is a problem for the latter stages, not the opening game against a DR Congo back line facing an elite European nation for the first time in recent memory. These are the games Cristiano Ronaldo lives for. He feasts on weaker, inexperienced sides, and DR Congo fits that MO to a T. Scrolling through their opponents over the last few years, the only European side they’ve faced is Denmark in their first warm-up match which ended in a 0-0 draw.
Their back four all have Premier League experience but three of them have experienced relegation from it. Despite Noah Sadiki’s excellent season for Sunderland, neither he nor his midfield partner Moutoussamy has ever faced off against a midfield three with the talent, quality and control of Fernandes, Neves and Vitinha.
THE BET
Ronaldo had three big chances against Nigeria and uncharacteristically spurned the lot, but getting into those positions is the point: the threat is still there. Against a deep DR Congo block he should get chances of similar quality, and he’s on penalty duty. Back CR7 to hit the target at least twice and turn one of those chances into a goal.
I’m confident the total goes over 2.5; it’s landed in nine of Portugal’s last 13, seven of them Portugal won. At -145 combine it with Portugal’s Moneyline to boost up to -110. If there are 3 goals or more in this game it’s highly likely Portugal will be the ones with the higher tally come the final whistle.
Back Portugal to kick off the tournament with a comfortable, commanding victory and Ronaldo the attacking focal point.
Pick: Same Game Parlay Cristiano Ronaldo Anytime Goalscorer -135 and 2+ Shots on Target -150 = +120
Pick: Same Game Parlay Portugal Moneyline -350 and Over 2.5 Goals -145 = -110
