Democratic Republic of Congo Holds Portugal to a Draw in World Cup 2026 Opener

The match between Portugal and the Democratic Republic of Congo ended in a surprising 1-1 draw on Wednesday evening during the opening round of the group stage at the 2026 World Cup.

With this result, both Portugal and the Democratic Republic of Congo earned one point as they begin their journey in Group 11, awaiting the outcome of the match between Colombia and Uzbekistan, which will conclude the first round of this group.

Match Highlights: Portugal vs. Democratic Republic of Congo

Portugal started the match with vigor, taking an early lead in the sixth minute. João Neves received a perfectly timed lob pass from Pedro Neto inside the penalty area and converted it with a precise header into the net to score the opening goal.

Despite Portugal’s dominance at various points throughout the match, the Democratic Republic of Congo managed to level the score right before halftime. Yohan Wissa netted the equalizer in the fourth minute of stoppage time, connecting with a powerful header from a superb cross into the penalty area.

Both teams failed to find the back of the net during the second half, despite several attempts from each side. The match concluded with a draw, allowing each team to secure a point as they embark on their campaigns in Group 11 of World Cup 2026.