Portugal draws 1-1 against DR Congo in 2026 World Cup opener

Portugal and the Democratic Republic of Congo drew 1-1 in their opening match of the 2026 World Cup held in Houston. Joao Neves gave Portugal an early lead in the 6th minute, but Yoane Wissa equalized for Congo later in the game. Despite the disappointing result for Portugal, captain Cristiano Ronaldo publicly defended his teammates and expressed optimism for the tournament's progression. Through this match, Ronaldo equaled Lionel Messi's record by appearing in his sixth World Cup final tournament. Furthermore, he became the oldest player to compete for Portugal in the World Cup at age 41. Following the match, Ronaldo emphasized on social media that the tournament is far from over and that the team remains focused. The match was part of the 11th group stage of the competition.