Portugal vs DR Congo LIVE: Both teams warming up! Cristiano Ronaldo makes 2026 World Cup debut

Portugal and DR Congo meet in their opening 2026 FIFA World Cup match as Cristiano Ronaldo begins his historic sixth World Cup appearance. Follow the live action here, including the full minute‑by‑minute.

By Alexander Rosquez

Updated on June 17, 2026 12:15PM EDT

**© Charles McQuillan-Pau Barrena/Getty Images**Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal (left) and Cédric Bakambu of DR Congo.

Portugal begin their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign on Wednesday when they face DR Congo in Houston, Texas. With Cristiano Ronaldo leading the team once again, the Portuguese enter the tournament as one of the favorites and will look to start Group K with a victory in what could be another historic chapter of the legendary forward’s international career.

[Watch Portugal vs DR Congo in the USA on Fubo]

Roberto Martínez‘s side arrives at the World Cup in strong form after lifting the UEFA Nations League and boasting one of the most talented squads in the competition. Portugal reached the quarterfinals at Qatar 2022, and expectations are even higher this time as they aim to challenge for the country’s first World Cup title.

For DR Congo, this match marks a long-awaited return to soccer’s biggest stage. The Africans are making only their second World Cup appearance and their first since 1974 after securing qualification through the intercontinental playoffs. While Portugal enters as the favorite, DR Congo will hope to make a statement in Houston and begin its Group K journey with a surprise result.

12:15PM

Both teams warming up!

Players from both sides are out on the pitch at Houston Stadium, going through their warm‑up routines as we get closer to kickoff.

12:05PM

Today’s venue!

Today’s action takes place at Houston Stadium, which has an official FIFA World Cup capacity of approximately 72,000 spectators. A massive crowd is expected as Portugal and DR Congo kick off their Group K campaigns.

11:50AM

DR Congo lineup confirmed!

DR Congo’s starting XI (by position): Lionel Mpasi; Aaron Wan‑Bissaka, Steve Kapuadi, Axel Tuanzebe, Chancel Mbemba, Arthur Masuaku; Ngalayel Mukau, Samuel Moutoussamy, Edo Kayembe; Cedric Bakambu, Yoane Wissa.

11:45AM

Portugal lineup confirmed!

Portugal’s starting XI: Diogo Costa; Tomás Araújo, Renato Veiga, João Cancelo, Nuno Mendes; Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, João Neves, Vitinha; Cristiano Ronaldo, Pedro Neto.

O 𝗫𝗜 𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟 para a estreia no Mundial 2026 🫡#VaiDarPortugal | #PORCOD #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/WcZeeHKeO0
— Portugal (@selecaoportugal) June 17, 2026

11:40AM

Today’s referees!

The match will be officiated by a FIFA‑appointed crew led by Abdulrahman Al Jassim (Qatar).

Full officiating team:

Referee: Abdulrahman Al Jassim (Qatar)
Assistant Referee 1: Saoud Ahmed (Qatar)
Assistant Referee 2: Taleb Al Marri (Qatar)
Fourth Official: Abongile Tom (South Africa)
Reserve Assistant Referee: Zakhele Siwela (South Africa)

11:20AM

Kickoff time and how to watch!

The match between Portugal and DR Congo is scheduled to start at 3:00 PM ET / 12:00 PM PT on Wednesday, June 18, 2026, at Houston Stadium (known as NRG Stadium outside FIFA competitions).

In the United States, the game will be broadcast live on FOX and Telemundo, with streaming available on Fubo, DirecTV Stream, Sling Blue, Hulu + Live TV, and Peacock Premium.

11:00AM

Portugal vs DR Congo clash in their first 2026 World Cup game in Houston

Welcome to our live blog! This time, Portugal face DR Congo at Houston Stadium in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. With Cristiano Ronaldo making his sixth World Cup appearance, Portugal enter the tournament as one of the favorites and look to start Group K with a strong performance. Stay with us for all the action and minute‑by‑minute updates from Houston.

Alexander Rosquez

Alexander Rosquez is a bilingual sports writer, fluent in English and Spanish, who joined Bolavip in June 2024. Bringing over 15 years of media experience, Alexander has covered a wide range of sports events, including soccer, MLB, and NHL. His expertise lies in real-time coverage of competitions across various globally relevant sports leagues. Before joining Bolavip, he gained extensive experience in MLB and soccer coverage for both national and international media outlets. His discipline in sports event coverage and meticulous attention to detail make him a valuable asset to the Bolavip team.