Portugal vs DR Congo kicks off at 1:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM BST on Wednesday, June 17 at NRG Stadium in Houston, with FOX carrying the match in the United States and BBC One broadcasting in the UK.
This is Group K‘s opening fixture of the 2026 FIFA World Cup – and the stakes are significant for both sides. Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, leads Portugal in what is widely billed as his sixth and final World Cup campaign, while DR Congo make their first tournament appearance since 1974.
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Portugal vs DR Congo Kick-Off Time
| Time Zone | Kick-Off |
| Houston (CDT) | 12:00 PM CDT |
| Eastern Time (ET) | 1:00 PM ET |
| Pacific Time (PT) | 10:00 AM PT |
| UK (BST) | 6:00 PM BST |
| Portugal (WEST) | 6:00 PM WEST |
| DR Congo (WAT) | 6:00 PM WAT |
| Central Europe (CEST) | 7:00 PM CEST |
| India (IST) | 10:30 PM IST |
| Australia (AEST) | 3:00 AM AEST (Thu, June 18) |
Portugal vs DR Congo Live Stream and TV Channel
Coverage is extensive across nearly every major market. In the United States, FOX carries the English-language broadcast, with Telemundo and Universo serving Spanish-speaking audiences. Streaming options include the FOX Sports App, FOX One, FuboTV, Sling TV, and YouTube TV.
In the United Kingdom, BBC One broadcasts from 5:30 PM BST with streaming on BBC iPlayer, while ITV1 holds shared rights with streaming on ITVX. Portugal supporters can catch the match free-to-air on RTP, with RTP Play available for streaming.
- 🇺🇸 USA: FOX (TV), FOX Sports App / FOX One, FuboTV, Sling TV, YouTube TV (stream)
- 🇬🇧 UK: BBC One, ITV1 (TV), BBC iPlayer, ITVX (stream)
- 🇵🇹 Portugal: RTP, SIC, TVI (TV), RTP Play (stream)
- 🇨🇩 DR Congo: RTNC free-to-air (TV), SuperSport app / New World TV (stream)
- 🇨🇦 Canada: TSN / CTV (TV), TSN Direct, FIFA+ (stream)
- 🇲🇽 Mexico: TV Azteca, Televisa / TUDN (TV), ViX, FIFA+ (stream)
- 🇩🇪 Germany: ZDF (TV), ZDF Mediathek, MagentaTV (stream)
- 🇫🇷 France: TF1 / M6, beIN Sports (TV), TF1+, beIN Sports Connect (stream)
- 🇮🇳 India: Sports18 (TV), JioCinema – free HD (stream)
- 🇦🇺 Australia: SBS (TV), SBS On Demand (stream)
- 🌍 Sub-Saharan Africa: SuperSport via DStv (TV), DStv Stream (stream)
- 🌐 Global: FIFA+ in select territories without exclusive local rights
Portugal vs DR Congo Team News
Roberto Martinez‘s Portugal side arrives in Houston in sharp form. Back-to-back pre-tournament wins – a 2-1 victory over Chile and a 2-1 win against Nigeria – confirm a fully fit squad.
The one narrative thread worth tracking: Ronaldo missed multiple clear chances against Nigeria, requiring teammates to rescue the result.
That is not an alarming sign – it is a data point. The supporting cast around Ronaldo is genuinely elite. João Neves and Vitinha form a Champions League-winning midfield partnership, Bruno Fernandes operates as the advanced playmaker, and Bernardo Silva provides width and creativity.
Nuno Mendes and Rúben Dias anchor a defense that ranks among Europe’s best. Diogo Costa in goal brings penalty-saving pedigree that could prove decisive deep in this tournament – check the World Cup Golden Boot odds for where Ronaldo‘s scoring price currently sits.
Sébastien Desabre‘s DR Congo side drew 0-0 with Denmark and lost 1-2 to Chile in warm-up fixtures – results that suggest defensive solidity but limited attacking output against quality opposition.
The squad carries genuine Premier League pedigree in defense: Aaron Wan-Bissaka at right back, Axel Tuanzebe and Chancel Mbemba as the central pairing, Arthur Masuaku on the left. Cédric Bakambu leads the attack, with Yoane Wissa of Newcastle United providing wide threat.
The tactical question for Desabre is whether a compact 4-5-1 low block can withstand Portugal‘s creators. That system can frustrate – but Fernandes, Neves, and Vitinha specialize in unlocking exactly this shape. No confirmed injury absences for either side.
Portugal vs DR Congo Predicted Lineups
Portugal are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1, with Martinez using the double pivot of Neves and Vitinha to control possession and protect the backline. The key tactical decision: whether Pedro Neto or Rafael Leão gets the nod on the right flank.
- GK: Diogo Costa
- LB: Nuno Mendes
- CB: Rúben Dias
- CB: Gonçalo Inácio
- RB: Diogo Dalot
- CM: João Neves
- CM: Vitinha
- LM: Bernardo Silva
- CAM: Bruno Fernandes
- RM: Pedro Neto
- ST: Cristiano Ronaldo
DR Congo are projected to deploy the 4-5-1 that Desabre has used throughout qualifying. The shape packs the midfield to deny space and funnels the attack through Bakambu on the counter. Noah Sadiki is the standout midfield talent to watch.
- GK: Lionel Mpasi
- LB: Arthur Masuaku
- CB: Axel Tuanzebe
- CB: Chancel Mbemba
- RB: Aaron Wan-Bissaka
- LM: Yoane Wissa
- CM: Samuel Moutoussamy
- CM: Noah Sadiki
- CM: Ngal’ayel Mukau
- RM: Théo Bongonda
- ST: Cédric Bakambu
Group K Context and What Is at Stake
Group K also contains Colombia and Uzbekistan. Portugal are the heavy favorites to top the group – but the opening result shapes everything.
A DR Congo point or win here would be one of the tournament’s defining upsets. The expanded 48-team format means the knockout path is wider, but DR Congo‘s schedule grows significantly harder if they drop points against Portugal before facing Colombia on June 23 and Uzbekistan on June 27.
The historical weight is real. DR Congo, competing as Zaire in their only previous World Cup in 1974, suffered a 9-0 defeat to Yugoslavia in what became one of football’s most painful group-stage exits.
The intervening 52-year wait to return makes this fixture significant far beyond the 90 minutes. Desabre‘s side navigated a narrow qualification route – finishing two points behind Senegal in their CAF qualifying group, then beating Jamaica in the inter-confederation playoff, reportedly in extra time – to earn their place at NRG Stadium.
For Portugal, this is business. Ronaldo has won the Euros and the Nations League but never the World Cup – the one trophy missing from a career defined by record-breaking. A sharp win here, with Ronaldo among the scorers, sets the tone for a deep run.
For more on how the rest of the tournament’s opening round shapes up, see our preview of France vs Senegal and the Iraq vs Norway Group stage clash.
