Portugal v Congo DR prediction, lineups & tips: World Cup 2026 Group K opener

Cristiano Ronaldo takes centre stage at the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Wednesday, leading Portugal into their Group K opener against Congo DR at NRG Stadium in Houston. At 41, Ronaldo is widely expected to be making his sixth and final World Cup appearance, and the entire Portuguese camp has spoken openly about wanting to win the trophy for their captain. The occasion is no less historic for Congo DR, who return to the World Cup for the first time since 1974, when they competed under the name Zaire.

Roberto Martinez's Portugal go into this game in good shape. They won all three of their pre-tournament friendlies, beating USA, Chile and Nigeria in succession, and Martinez has since spoken with quiet confidence about his squad's readiness. "Talent is combined with attitude, focus, and collective responsibility," the Spanish coach said ahead of the trip to Miami. He has also been measured when asked about managing Ronaldo's minutes, telling reporters: "We can talk about many dreams, but we only have three matches to start, this is our World Cup. And we have to manage these three in the best way possible."

Across 38 games under Martinez, Portugal have scored 109 goals, with Ronaldo contributing 25 in 30 appearances. The 41-year-old was substituted off in the 65th minute of the 2-1 win over Nigeria, with Goncalo Ramos introduced as cover, a rotation pattern Martinez has used regularly and is likely to repeat here if the game is won. Ruben Dias missed much of the second half of the club season with a hamstring injury, but returned for the Chile and Nigeria friendlies and has trained fully ahead of Wednesday.

Congo DR's route to this tournament was anything but straightforward. Head coach Sebastien Desabre oversaw a qualifying campaign that included seven wins, a draw and two defeats before finishing two points behind automatic qualifiers Senegal, with the Leopards ultimately sealing their place through the inter-confederation playoffs against Jamaica. Every player in Desabre's 26-man squad is a World Cup first-timer.

Desabre is expected to deploy a back five to try to blunt Portugal's attacking options, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Chancel Mbemba, Axel Tuanzebe, Steve Kapuadi and Arthur Masuaku likely across the defensive line. In attack, Yoane Wissa is the danger man. He joined Newcastle from Brentford for £55 million but struggled for much of last season with a knee injury, scoring just one Premier League goal, and missed the Africa Cup of Nations in January as a result. If Congo DR are to cause an upset, Wissa attacking the space behind Portugal's advanced full-backs on the counter is their most plausible route.

Desabre's group preparation was not without setbacks. Defender Rocky Bushiri withdrew from the squad with an Achilles injury suffered on the final day of the Scottish Premiership season while playing for Hibernian. Kilmarnock midfielder Aaron Tshibola, who was eligible for England, has been called up as a replacement. Gael Kakuta, the former Chelsea winger now based in Greece, returned as a substitute in Congo DR's 2-1 pre-tournament friendly defeat to Chile on 9 June and is fit for selection.

Portugal v Congo DR kicks off at 18:00 BST on Wednesday, 17 June at NRG Stadium, Houston. In the UK, live coverage is on BBC One, with pre-match build-up from 17:30 BST. Streaming is available free via the BBC iPlayer app and BBC Sport website. A TV licence is required.