Portugal line-up set for Cup opener against DR Congo; see | OneFootball

Portugal begin their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign this Wednesday (17) at 2 p.m., taking on DR Congo at the Houston stadium in the United States.

The Group K clash pits one of the tournament’s strongest teams against a nation returning to the world stage after a 52-year absence.

Lineups

🇵🇹 Portugal

Coach: Roberto Martínez

Considered one of the favorites, Portugal arrive at the World Cup with a squad that balances the longevity of Cristiano Ronaldo — in his sixth appearance, at 41 years old — with the technical rise of players such as Nuno Mendes, Vitinha and João Neves.

🇨🇩 DR Congo

Coach: Sébastien Desabre

After half a century of waiting — their last appearance came in 1974, still as Zaire — DR Congo are banking on a pragmatic style of play, marked by defensive solidity and mental resilience, traits that helped the team eliminate traditional sides such as Cameroon and Nigeria on the road to the playoffs.

The standout name is 21-year-old talent Mukau.

Match Details

📍 Venue: Houston, USA

⏰ Kick-off: 2 p.m. (Brasília time)

📺 Where to watch: CazéTV (Live updates on ge)

🟨 Referee: Abdulrahman Al Jassim (Qatar), assisted by Taleb Al Marri and Saoud Almaqaleh.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

📸 PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA - AFP or licensors