Key takeaways
- DR Congo held Portugal to a 1-1 draw in their World Cup 2026 Group K opener in Houston.
- João Neves headed Portugal ahead early; Yoane Wissa equalised in first-half stoppage time.
- It was DR Congo's first-ever World Cup goal and first-ever World Cup point.
- Cristiano Ronaldo played all 90, missed chances, and became the oldest outfield player to start a World Cup match.
The upsets keep coming at World Cup 2026. A day after the group stage served up shocks across the board, DR Congo held Portugal to a 1-1 draw in their Group K opener in Houston — and in doing so claimed the first World Cup goal and the first World Cup point in the nation’s history.
What happened: Wissa’s header makes history
Portugal started exactly as favourites should. João Neves rose to head Roberto Martínez’s side in front inside the opening five minutes, and with Cristiano Ronaldo leading the line, a comfortable afternoon looked on the cards.
DR Congo had other ideas. The Leopards grew into the game and, on the stroke of half-time, Yoane Wissa met a cross to head home an equaliser in first-half stoppage time — a goal that will live long in the country’s football memory. Portugal dominated possession after the break but could not find a winner; Ronaldo, who played the full 90 minutes, missed two presentable chances and extended a goalless run in major tournaments.
There were milestones for the Portugal captain even in frustration: making his 23rd World Cup appearance, Ronaldo became the oldest outfield player ever to start a World Cup match. But the headline belonged to DR Congo and that historic first point.
The scoreline, the scorers and the records are corroborated by ESPN, FIFA, Al Jazeera and Sky Sports.
The betting angle: favourites stumble, underdogs hold
This is becoming the story of the tournament — heavyweights dropping points to debutants and underdogs. We covered the pattern in our biggest upsets and betting lessons piece, and Portugal’s stumble fits the trend neatly.
A few reads punters can take from this:
- Short favourites carry real risk in openers. Teams playing their first match of a tournament are often rusty and over-priced. Backing a heavily favoured side at a cramped price — when a motivated underdog only needs to defend and nick one — is exactly where bankrolls leak. Our dark horses and value bets guide leans into this.
- The draw and “double chance” had value. When a debutant sets up to frustrate, the draw is frequently underestimated. Reading those situations is part of building a smarter card — see our group stage betting strategy.
- Ronaldo’s goalscorer markets need fresh eyes. A continued goalless run in big tournaments matters if you have been habitually backing him to score. Form and matchups should drive those bets, not reputation.
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Bottom line
DR Congo will remember this draw for a generation, and Portugal have work to do to top Group K. For bettors, the takeaway is simple: in a tournament already defined by shocks, blindly backing the big name at a short price is the fastest way to go broke.
Bet only what you can afford to lose. Set a budget before kickoff and stick to it. If betting stops being fun, take a break — see our responsible gambling resources. Strictly 18+.
Frequently asked questions
What was the score in Portugal vs DR Congo?
Portugal were held to a 1-1 draw by DR Congo in their World Cup 2026 Group K opener in Houston. João Neves put Portugal ahead with an early header, and Yoane Wissa levelled with a header in first-half stoppage time.
Why was the draw historic for DR Congo?
It delivered DR Congo's first-ever goal and first-ever point at a FIFA World Cup. For a tournament debut against a side featuring Cristiano Ronaldo, holding Portugal was a landmark result for the Leopards.
