Portugal vs DR Congo prediction: Ronaldo kicks off what could be his final World Cup campaign - 17.06.2026
On June 17 in Houston, Group K of the 2026 World Cup gets underway, and the opening match pits the group’s heavy favorite—Portugal—against one of the tournament’s most intriguing dark horses, DR Congo.
- See also: Group favorites clash: who will come out on top? Preview and prediction for Netherlands vs Japan, June 14
On paper, it all looks pretty straightforward.
Portugal have arrived in the USA, Mexico, and Canada with a constellation of world-class stars: Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Vitinha, Ruben Dias, Nuno Mendes, and of course, Cristiano Ronaldo. Yes, the legend is already 41, but a huge part of the spotlight is on what could be his last World Cup.
However, this Portugal side hasn’t been solely reliant on Ronaldo for quite some time. The team’s greatest strength is its incredibly stacked midfield. Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva are capable of unlocking any defense, while Vitinha and João Neves dictate the tempo against nearly any opponent.
But DR Congo are definitely not a team to be written off as mere bystanders. The Africans are back at the World Cup for the first time since 1974, fielding a battle-ready squad drawn from players across Europe’s top leagues. Their roster features Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Chancel Mbemba, Theo Bongonda, Axel Tuanzebe, and their main attacking threat is Yoane Wissa—one of the most dangerous forwards on the team.
Interestingly, this will be the first ever official head-to-head meeting between Portugal and DR Congo. So there’s no history or old scores to settle—everything starts with a clean slate.
For Portugal, a win in the opening round is almost a must. Colombia are also in the group and widely considered their main rivals for the top spot, so dropping points against Congo is highly undesirable.
For DR Congo, the situation is the opposite: even a draw against the favorites could be a huge step toward a potential playoff berth. The tournament’s new format allows teams to compete not only for the top two spots, but also for the best third-place positions, making every point especially valuable.
Don’t expect end-to-end football from the opening whistle. The Congolese will likely focus on a compact defense and quick counterattacks down the flanks, while Portugal will dominate possession and probe for openings between the lines.
Prediction: Portugal appear clearly superior in terms of squad depth and quality. If the favorites avoid complacency, they should kick off their World Cup campaign with a win. But don’t expect a walk in the park—DR Congo have already shown in qualifying that they can trouble more illustrious opponents.
Pick: Over 2.5 total goals.
Probable lineups:
- Portugal: Costa, Cancelo, Dias, Inácio, Mendes, Fernandes, Neves, Vitinha, Silva, Ronaldo, Leão.
- DR Congo: Mpasi Nzau, Masuaku, Tuanzebe, Mbemba, Wan-Bissaka, Moutoussamy, Sadiki, Mbuku, Wissa, Elia, Bakambu.
