World Cup 2026: Portugal vs D.R Congo – Preview, team news and kick-off time

Portugal begin another quest for World Cup glory when they face DR Congo in their opening Group K fixture at NRG Stadium in Houston on Wednesday, June 17.While Portugal arrive in the United States as one of the tournament favourites, DR Congo return to football’s biggest stage for the first time in more than five decades, hoping to make a statement on their long-awaited comeback.Portugal Eye Strong Start to World Cup CampaignFew teams enter the 2026 World Cup in better form than Portugal. Roberto Martnez’s side have lost just once in their last 13 matches, winning ten and drawing two, while their qualification campaign included a remarkable 9-1 victory over Armenia.Despite their impressive pedigree and talented squad, Portugal have often struggled to translate their quality into deep World Cup runs. Since reaching the semi-finals in 1966, they have failed to return to the last four, and recent tournaments have seen them stumble out of the blocks.Only one of Portugal’s last four World Cup opening matches has ended in victory, although that success came against African opposition when they defeated Ghana 3-2 in Qatar four years ago.With a squad packed with experience and attacking quality, expectations are high that Portugal can finally mount a serious challenge for the trophy.DR Congo Return After 52-Year AbsenceFor DR Congo, this tournament represents a historic return to the World Cup stage.The Central African nation last appeared at the finals in 1974 under the name Zaire, enduring a difficult campaign that ended with three defeats and 14 goals conceded.Their return was secured through a hard-fought inter-confederation play-off victory over Jamaica earlier this year, ending one of the longest absences in World Cup history.Preparation for the tournament has not been straightforward. An Ebola outbreak in the country has restricted travel for supporters, limiting the number of fans able to follow the team in the United States.Head coach Sbastien Desabre has called on his players to make their presence felt on the world stage despite those challenges.Cristiano Ronaldo Leads Portugal’s AttackEven at this stage of his career, Cristiano Ronaldo remains the headline figure for Portugal.The veteran forward enters the tournament as the only player in history to have scored in five different World Cups and will be looking to extend that record further. Interestingly, three of his last four World Cup goals have come against African opposition.Portugal’s attacking strength extends beyond Ronaldo, with a squad capable of dominating possession and creating chances at a relentless rate.Their recent matches have reflected that attacking intent, with nine of their last 13 games producing more than 2.5 goals.DR Congo’s Defensive Discipline Could Be KeyAlthough they enter the match as underdogs, DR Congo possess a defensive record that suggests they should not be underestimated.Eighteen of their last 22 victories have come alongside a clean sheet, highlighting the organisation and discipline that Desabre has instilled within the squad.Striker Cdric Bakambu remains one of their biggest threats going forward after scoring four goals during qualification, with all of those strikes arriving before half-time.If DR Congo are to cause an upset, they will likely need another resilient defensive performance combined with clinical finishing on the counterattack.Team NewsPortugal head into the match with a fully fit squad and no major injury concerns.DR Congo are also expected to have all key players available, giving coach Sbastien Desabre a full selection to choose from for the historic occasion.Head-to-Head RecordThis will be the first-ever meeting between Portugal and DR Congo at senior international level.Portugal’s most recent experience against African opposition at a World Cup ended in disappointment when Morocco eliminated them in the quarter-finals of the 2022 tournament.Key StatsPortugal scored in ten consecutive World Cup matches before their defeat to Morocco in Qatar.Nine of Portugal’s last 13 matches have produced over 2.5 goals.Eighteen of DR Congo’s last 22 victories have come with a clean sheet.Each of the last four goals conceded by DR Congo arrived after the 50th minute.PredictionPortugal possess significantly more experience, depth and attacking quality, making them clear favourites to begin their World Cup campaign with three points.DR Congo’s defensive organisation should make the contest competitive for long periods, but Portugal’s firepower is expected to prove decisive.Prediction: Portugal 3-1 DR CongoKick-Off TimeThe Group K clash between Portugal and DR Congo will take place on Wednesday, June 17, at NRG Stadium in Houston. The match will kick off at 17:00GMT.  



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