Portugal v DR Congo World Cup 2026: starting XIs, TV channel and verdict

Portugal begin their World Cup campaign this afternoon aiming to prove their favourite status, as Roberto Martínez’s side face the Democratic Republic of Congo at the NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. The Seleção, ranked fifth globally by FIFA, enter the tournament as one of the leading contenders and will be expected to make an immediate statement in Group K.

Match preview

Kick-off is at 6pm BST, with the match broadcast on BBC. The NRG Stadium is temporarily known as Houston Stadium for the tournament. This will be the first meeting between the two nations at any level, including friendlies. Portugal are making their ninth World Cup appearance, their best result being third place in 1966, while DR Congo are competing in only their second finals — their first since 1974, when they appeared as Zaire and lost all three group matches, including a 9-0 defeat to Yugoslavia.

Portugal topped their qualifying group with a single loss and have maintained formidable form, with their only defeat since March 2025 coming against the Republic of Ireland. They also won the UEFA Nations League in the 2024-25 season. DR Congo, under the guidance of manager Sébastien Desabre, reached the finals by defeating Jamaica in an inter-confederation play-off, having beaten Nigeria in the African play-offs earlier this year. Their qualification campaign also included wins over Cameroon, and a dramatic extra-time winner against Jamaica. Desabre has revitalised the side, emphasising structure and a formidable defensive block.

Much of the pre-match focus rests on Portugal’s midfield, widely regarded as the strongest in the tournament. The duo of Vitinha and João Neves — Champions League winners with Paris Saint-Germain — anchor the engine room, while Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes, named Premier League player of the season, operates ahead of them as the No.10. Bernardo Silva adds further creativity and control. This trio is expected to dominate possession and carve open chances for the forward line.

Up front, Cristiano Ronaldo is set to feature in a record sixth World Cup, a feat he shares with Lionel Messi. At 41, this is likely to be his final major tournament for Portugal. He is the all-time leading male international goalscorer with 143 goals in 226 caps, and will aim to become the first player to score in six different World Cups. Ronaldo’s recent form remains formidable: he scored eight goals in Portugal’s Nations League title run and won his first Saudi Pro League title last season. Speaking before the match, Ronaldo emphasised a “match by match” approach and the need for a strong start.

Ronaldo will have taken note of Messi’s hat-trick for Argentina against Algeria on Tuesday, as defending champions Argentina began their campaign with a 3-0 victory. Kylian Mbappé also starred for France, scoring a brace in a 3-1 win over Senegal, including a 30-yard screamer. Mbappé moved closer to Miroslav Klose’s all-time World Cup goals record while becoming France’s leading scorer in the process.

Team news

Portugal’s starting XI: Diogo Costa; João Cancelo, Tomás Araújo, Renato Veiga, Nuno Mendes; Vitinha, João Neves; Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, Pedro Neto; Cristiano Ronaldo.

Substitutes: José Sá, Rui Silva, Rúben Dias, Diogo Dalot, Nélson Semedo, Gonçalo Inácio, Matheus Nunes, Rúben Neves, Samu Costa, Gonçalo Ramos, João Félix, Francisco Trincão, Francisco Conceição, Rafael Leão, Gonçalo Guedes.

Martínez’s squad notably omitted several Premier League-based players, including Tottenham’s João Palhinha, West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes, and Sporting’s Pedro Gonçalves. The manager has spoken of a “very consistent journey” with the squad and hinted he may step down after the tournament.

DR Congo’s starting XI: Lionel Mpasi; Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Axel Tuanzebe, Chancel Mbemba (captain), Steve Kapuadi, Arthur Masuaku; Edo Kayembe, Samuel Moutoussamy, Ngal’ayel Mukau; Yoane Wissa, Cédric Bakambu.

Substitutes: Timothy Fayulu, Matthieu Epolo, Dylan Batubinsika, Joris Kayembe, Gedoon Kalulu, Theo Bongonda, Gaël Kakuta, Noah Sadiki, Aaron Tshibola, Charles Pickel, Nathanaël Mbuku, Brian Cipenga, Meshack Elia, Fiston Mayele, Simon Banza.

DR Congo’s line-up features several Premier League players: Aaron Wan-Bissaka at right-back, Yoane Wissa in attack, and Axel Tuanzebe in central defence. The defensive pairing of Mbemba and Tuanzebe conceded only 0.60 goals per 90 minutes during qualification. Manager Desabre has expressed great respect for Portugal, noting his side’s flexibility and the presence of many players in top European leagues. DR Congo’s final pre-tournament friendly against Chile was cancelled due to health concerns related to an Ebola outbreak.

Predictions

Standard Sport’s prediction is a 3-0 victory for Portugal, though the warning signs from early group matches are clear. Brazil and Spain have both dropped points against supposedly weaker opposition, and Martínez will be wary of a similar slip. However, the sheer depth of quality in Portugal’s squad — particularly in midfield — should prove decisive against an opponent making only their second World Cup appearance.

DR Congo’s defensive discipline, combined with rapid counter-attacks, could cause problems. Desabre’s side are comfortable ceding possession and looking to exploit space, employing either a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 shape. They have lost only once since September 2025 and reached the Round of 16 in the African Cup of Nations. Yet Portugal’s firepower, led by Ronaldo and supported by a world-class midfield, makes them heavy favourites to start their campaign with a convincing win.