DR Congo earned a memorable point after holding Portugal to a 1-1 draw in their opening 2026 FIFA World Cup match.
Portugal made a fast start when midfielder Joao Neves headed home in the sixth minute to give the European side an early lead. Despite dominating possession for long periods, Portugal struggled to create clear chances and failed to build on their advantage.
DR Congo punished that wastefulness just before half-time. Newcastle United forward Yoane Wissa was left unmarked inside the box and headed in Arthur Masuaku’s cross to score his country’s first-ever World Cup goal.
The African side defended resolutely in the second half and looked dangerous on the counterattack, with Cedric Bakambu striking the post. Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo, making his sixth World Cup appearance, came close twice but narrowly missed the target on both occasions.
The result marks a significant moment for DR Congo, who lost all three matches during their only previous World Cup appearance in 1974 when they competed as Zaire. Ranked 46th in the world, they showed discipline and resilience against a higher-ranked Portuguese side.
Portugal will now look to improve in their next Group match, while DR Congo can take confidence from a historic performance on football’s biggest stage.
