Portugal and Democratic Republic of the Congo draw in World Cup opener

On June 17, 2026, Portugal and the Democratic Republic of the Congo played to a 1-1 draw in their opening match of the FIFA World Cup. Portugal took an early lead in the 6th minute with a header from Joao Neves. The Democratic Republic of the Congo equalized in the 45+5th minute following a cross from Arthur Masuaku that was headed in by Yoane Wissa. Despite pressure from Portugal, including opportunities for Nuno Mendes and Bruno Fernandes, the score remained level until the final whistle. This match marks a historical milestone for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as it was their return to the final tournament stage after 53 years. The game featured key players such as Cristiano Ronaldo for Portugal and Cedric Bakambu and Samuel Moutoussamy for the Congo. Both teams struggled to create decisive scoring chances in the second half, leading to the final result.