TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Portugal national team will clash with DR Congo in the opening match of Group K in the 2026 World Cup at Houston Stadium, United States, on Thursday, June 18, 2026, at 00:00 Indonesian time, and will be broadcasted live by TVRI. The team dubbed as Selecao comes in as the group favorite and aims for victory in their first match.
This match marks the first meeting between the two teams, both in the final round of the World Cup and in senior international matches.
Portugal secured their spot in the final round with a convincing performance. Managed by Roberto Martinez, the team scored 20 goals in just six qualifying matches and is considered one of the strong candidates to go far in the tournament.
Portugal's major mission is to achieve its first-ever world title. So far, Portugal's best achievement in the World Cup is finishing in third place in the 1966 edition.
All eyes will be on Cristiano Ronaldo in this match. The 41-year-old forward will make his sixth appearance in the World Cup. No other Portuguese player has achieved this record.
As quoted from ANTARA, Ronaldo remains the mainstay in the forward line despite Portugal now being strengthened by a generation of players who excel at the elite level in Europe. Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Vitinha, Joao Neves, and Nuno Mendes make Portugal have one of the deepest squads in this tournament.
Portugal is considered the favorite on paper. In addition to their experience in international competitions, they are ranked fifth in the world and have several players who regularly play for top European clubs.
However, the DR Congo team is highly motivated after finally qualifying for the World Cup. The team known as Les Leopards returns to the final round for the first time since 1974, when the country was still named Zaire.
DR Congo secured their place in the 2026 World Cup through an intercontinental playoff after defeating Jamaica 1-0 in Guadalajara, Mexico. According to FIFA data, the 2026 appearance marks DR Congo's second participation in the World Cup final rounds. In the 1974 edition, they were eliminated in the group stage without winning a match or scoring a goal.
Despite being the underdog, DR Congo has several players who compete in European leagues. Names like Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Chancel Mbemba, Yoane Wissa, and Cedric Bakambu have the potential to pose a threat to Portugal, especially through quick counterattacks.
Portugal is expected to dominate possession and control the tempo of the game from the start. However, experience shows that the opening match of the World Cup often brings surprises, so Selecao still needs to be wary of RD Congo's resistance.
Current Team Conditions
The Portugal national team has no injured players. Coach Roberto Martinez is not expected to make many changes to his main lineup. As quoted from Sportsmole, all eyes will be on Cristiano Ronaldo who will lead Portugal's forward line. The 41-year-old forward is scheduled to make his 229th appearance with the Portugal national team.
Ronaldo also hopes to add to the 143 international goals he has scored throughout his career. The 2026 World Cup provides the Portugal captain with an opportunity to improve on his performance in the 2022 edition, in which he only scored one goal.
The Al-Nassr player was given a red card while playing against the Republic of Ireland in a qualifying match at the end of 2025. However, the suspension for the second and third matches was postponed for one year since it was his first red card after playing in 225 international matches.
Portugal will also rely on several players who are currently in top form. Nuno Mendes, Joao Neves, and Vitinha are expected to start from the beginning after helping Paris Saint-Germain win the 2025-2026 Champions League.
In addition, Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes is also expected to play a crucial role in Portugal's midfield after an impressive season with his club.
In the DR Congo camp, several names are known in European football. Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Axel Tuanzebe, Chancel Mbemba, and Arthur Masuaku are expected to fill the defensive line in the five-defender formation that coach Sebastien Desabre may apply.
In the midfield, Noah Sadiki is likely to be the mainstay. The Sunderland midfielder will be tasked with maintaining the balance of the game and aiding the attack.
Meanwhile, the main threat for DR Congo is in the forward line through Yoane Wissa and Cedric Bakambu. Wissa, who plays for Newcastle United, may be one of the primary options in the attacking sector.
As for Bakambu, he remains the mainstay of Les Leopards. The forward for Real Betis is the top goal scorer in the DR Congo squad, having scored 21 international goals. Meanwhile, Wissa has scored nine goals for the national team.
Predicted Lineups
Portugal: Diogo Costa; Joao Cancelo, Ruben Dias, Nuno Mendes, Nelson Semedo; Vitinha, Joao Neves, Bruno Fernandes; Bernardo Silva, Cristiano Ronaldo, Rafael Leao.
DR Congo: Lionel Mpasi; Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Axel Tuanzebe, Chancel Mbemba, Arthur Masuaku; Noah Sadiki, Samuel Moutoussamy; Theo Bongonda, Meschack Elia, Yoane Wissa; Cedric Bakambu.
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