Portugal went into the break level at 1-1 with DR Congo in their 2026 FIFA World Cup Group K opener on June 17, a result that had pundits calling for more from two of football’s biggest names in the second half.

The match at NRG Stadium in Houston started promisingly for the Portuguese. João Neves put them ahead with a header in the sixth minute, the kind of early goal that usually lets a favorite settle in and suffocate the opposition. That did not happen.

DR Congo’s resilience rewrites the script

The reward came deep into first-half stoppage time. Yoane Wissa found the net in the 45+5 minute to level the score, sending the Congolese contingent in Houston into delirium and silencing a Portuguese side that had looked increasingly uncomfortable.

Commentators at the break pointed to an obvious issue. Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes, Portugal’s two most dangerous creative forces, were not sufficiently involved in the attacking play.

This World Cup marks Ronaldo’s sixth appearance at the tournament.

Crypto’s growing presence at the World Cup

Kraken was named the official crypto exchange supporter of the tournament on June 9, 2026.

Algorand powers FIFA’s blockchain-based NFTs and digital collectibles, giving fans a way to own moments from the tournament.

The Portuguese national team’s fan token, $POR, trades on the Socios.com platform. These tokens typically give holders access to voting rights on minor team decisions and exclusive content.