Portugal were held to a 1-1 draw by the Democratic Republic of Congo in their 2026 World Cup opener on Wednesday in Houston, as Yoane Wissa’s header just before halftime cancelled out Joao Neves’ early strike and spoiled Cristiano Ronaldo’s tournament debut.

Joao Neves had put Portugal ahead with a header in the 6th minute at NRG Stadium, but Wissa equalized with a header of his own deep into first-half stoppage time, ensuring the European side failed to secure a winning start.

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Portugal coach Roberto Martínez kept 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo on the pitch for the entire 90 minutes. In his post-match press conference, Martínez insisted his decision was not based on the forward’s age but on his physical condition and the team’s immediate needs, stating that in a match where goals were required, Ronaldo was essential.

Portugal at the #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/1fnYwUhVX4

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 17, 2026

Martínez downplayed the setback, drawing parallels to past World Cup winners who lost their opening matches — citing Argentina’s defeat to Saudi Arabia in 2022 and Spain’s loss to Switzerland in 2010 — and emphasized that declaring a desire to win the tournament is an emotion that does not help secure victories. He added that the team is taking the competition step by step, with their next fixture scheduled in six days.

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