MATCH PREVIEW:
The football is coming thick and fast, and from the early hours of tomorrow morning we’ll have officially seen all 48 teams in action.
England have had a long wait to get their tournament up and running, but Thomas Tuchel’s side will be in action very shortly.
First, though, we’ve got Portugal v DR Congo to enjoy.
About 16 hours after Lionel Messi became the first man to appear in six different World Cups, Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo will become the second. He starts up front and will be the first man to score in six different World Cups if he finds the net.
Manchester City defender Ruben Dias is out injured but his former City team-mate Bernardo Silva, Chelsea winger Pedro Neto and Manchester United skipper Bruno Fernandes are in from the start.
Captain Bruno Fernandes said Portugal will play with former teammate Diogo Jota in their thoughts.
The forward was killed in a car accident last year and would likely have been an important part of the team at this World Cup.
“Everyone has spoken about him,” Fernandes said. “He was a great teammate, very down to earth, very passionate about what he could do for our country and football as a whole. “For us, he is still part of our group.”
Ronaldo is aiming to win one of the last remaining pieces of major silverware to have eluded him in his illustrious career.
Portugal exited in the quarterfinals at the hands of another African side, Morocco, at the 2022 finals, while their best finish is third in 1966. A positive start is important in a pool that also contains Colombia and Uzbekistan.
They have lost only two of their last 15 World Cup group-stage matches, but one of those was to South Korea in 2022.
West Ham right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Newcastle forward Yoane Wissa are among the British-based players named in DR Congo’s starting line-up.
Axel Tuanzebe, who played in the Premier League for Burnley last season, is part of a likely five-man defence, while Watford’s Edo Kayembe starts in midfield.
Morocco, Ivory Coast, Egypt and Cape Verde have all made strong starts to the World Cup, and Wissa hopes DR Congo can keep up that good run for the African continent.
“What they have been doing is to show the world that African teams are good. That’s really important. Now we have 10 teams competing [at the World Cup] and for sure we have got good quality. I’m really happy and really pleased with the African teams so far,” he added.
Wissa had an injury-plagued season with Newcastle United in the 2025-26 campaign, but is able to reflect on how far he has come in his career to be at a World Cup.
“It is a big privilege. I never take anything for granted, so I’m really happy for this moment, for me and for my family, who have always supported me,” he said.
“It is a big stage for me, for the Congo team and for the fans. It means a lot.”
ANALYSIS:
Vinicius Jr netted for Brazil.
Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland both scored twice.
Lionel Messi put on a masterclass for Argentina by grabbing a hat-trick.
Now it’s Cristiano Ronaldo’s turn. He won’t want to miss out on the fun.
The tactical debate around Portugal continues to orbit Cristiano Ronaldo, yet there is no indication that Roberto Martínez is prepared to alter his central attacking structure around the 41-year-old captain. Despite increasing scrutiny linked to his reduced involvement in general play and a goalless run in nine major-tournament matches, Ronaldo’s positional value remains intact due to his elite penalty-box instincts and record of 25 goals in his last 32 international appearances.
His evolution from wide, dribbling winger to penalty-box finisher has fundamentally reshaped Portugal’s attacking reference point.
From a structural perspective, Portugal’s attacking model is built on controlled territorial suffocation through possession, with Bernardo Silva and Bruno Fernandes functioning as key creative hubs. Their primary role is to manipulate compact defensive blocks and generate overloads in wide or half-space crossing zones where Ronaldo can operate as the focal finisher.
However, this approach is inherently dependent on full-back aggression, which introduces a recurring vulnerability in defensive transitions when possession is lost in advanced areas.
That transition risk is where opponents like DR Congo are expected to target Portugal. Under Sébastien Desabre, the Leopards are tactically disciplined in a narrow mid-block designed to congest central lanes and force play into wide areas before springing forward at pace. Their defensive compactness is not passive; it is engineered to trigger turnovers that release immediate vertical transitions into space.
Once possession is regained, DR Congo’s attacking blueprint becomes direct and explosive, with Yoane Wissa and Silas acting as primary outlets for diagonal switches into the channels behind Portugal’s advanced defensive line. Samuel Moutoussamy’s role as a screening pivot is critical in disrupting Portugal’s rhythm and limiting the influence of their creators.
This sets up a clear tactical clash: Portugal’s structured possession dominance and penalty-box efficiency versus DR Congo’s disciplined low block and rapid transition threat into wide spaces.
PREDICTIONS:
Sadiq’s Prediction: Portugal enter the match as clear favourites and have the quality to eventually break down DR Congo’s disciplined defensive structure. Roberto Martínez’s side is expected to dominate possession through the creativity of Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva, patiently moving the ball until gaps appear in the Congolese backline.
While DR Congo will likely sit in a compact mid-block and attempt to frustrate Portugal, the experience of Cristiano Ronaldo inside the penalty area could prove decisive. Even though the Portuguese captain has gone nine major-tournament matches without a goal, his record of 25 goals in his last 32 international appearances suggests he remains a major threat.
Portugal’s superior technical quality and tournament experience should see them secure a comfortable victory and a clean sheet.
My Prediction: Portugal 4-1 DR Congo
Peter’s Prediction: This scenario would see Portugal control the game but repeatedly get punished in transition. DR Congo’s entire tactical blueprint is built around absorbing pressure and striking quickly when possession is regained, making them particularly dangerous against teams that commit numbers forward.
Portugal’s attacking quality should still create opportunities, with Ronaldo, Fernandes and Silva combining to unlock the Congolese defence. However, if Portugal’s full-backs are caught high up the pitch, the pace of Wissa and Silas could cause significant problems.
Given DR Congo’s recent reputation for resilience and Portugal’s occasional struggles against well-organised defensive teams, a high-scoring draw remains a realistic possibility.
My Prediction: Portugal 2-2 DR Congo
Gbenga’s Prediction: This could be a more open contest if DR Congo successfully exploit Portugal’s biggest vulnerability, defensive transitions. Martínez encourages his full-backs to push high up the field, and that could leave spaces for Yoane Wissa and Silas to attack on the counter.
However, Portugal possess one of the deepest squads in the tournament, blending established stars with emerging talents. The midfield combination of Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva should create enough chances to overwhelm the Leopards.
DR Congo may find a goal through a rapid counterattack, but Portugal’s attacking depth, possession dominance and Ronaldo’s predatory instincts should ultimately prove too much. But I still see a draw.
My Prediction: Portugal 1-1 DR Congo
Gloria’s Prediction: On paper, Portugal have the stronger squad, greater tournament pedigree and more attacking firepower. But DR Congo’s compact shape, counterattacking speed and tactical discipline make them capable of frustrating the Europeans if Portugal fail to convert their dominance into goals. I see a draw too.
My Prediction: Portugal 3-1 DR Congo
PREVIOUS MATCHES RECAP
Match Recap: Argentina 3–0 Algeria
Lionel Messi delivered a historic performance as reigning champions Argentina launched their World Cup title defence with an impressive victory over Algeria at the Kansas City Stadium. The Argentine captain, making his 200th appearance for his country, scored the first World Cup hat-trick of his illustrious career and moved level with Germany legend Miroslav Klose as the highest goalscorer in World Cup finals history with 16 goals.
The three-time world champions were forced to work hard for the win as they seek to become only the third nation to successfully defend the World Cup. However, Argentina ultimately prevailed thanks largely to the brilliance of their talismanic captain. The victory also carried added significance as it marked the first time Argentina have won their opening match at a World Cup as defending champions, having previously suffered defeats in 1982 and 1990.
Messi opened the scoring in the 17th minute with a trademark moment of quality. After receiving the ball from his Inter Miami teammate Rodrigo De Paul, the 38-year-old curled a superb effort beyond goalkeeper Luca Zidane, the son of French football icon Zinedine Zidane. The goal came in an entertaining opening period that saw an earlier Messi strike ruled out, while Algeria also had a goal disallowed just three minutes later as both sides threatened from the outset.
The historic night was not without controversy for the Argentine captain. On the occasion that made him the first player ever to feature in six World Cups, Messi was fortunate to avoid punishment for a reckless challenge on Algeria defender Aissa Mandi midway through the first half. Despite that moment, Argentina continued to press forward and eventually tightened their grip on the contest.
Messi doubled Argentina’s advantage shortly after the hour mark when he capitalised on an error by Zidane from close range before completing his landmark hat-trick in the 76th minute. After taking possession from Nicolas Gonzalez, he unleashed a thunderous strike from the edge of the area to seal victory and write another chapter in his remarkable career.
Having made a winning start in Group J, Argentina will now turn their attention to upcoming fixtures against Austria and Jordan as their quest for back-to-back World Cup titles gathers momentum.
Match Recap: Austria 3–1 Jordan
Austria recorded their first victory at the World Cup finals since 1990 after overcoming debutants Jordan in an entertaining Group J encounter in San Francisco. The win marked a significant milestone for the Europeans, who are playing in the tournament for the first time since 1998 and were eager to make a strong statement on their return to football’s biggest stage.
Ralf Rangnick’s side took the lead in spectacular fashion in the 21st minute when Romano Schmid unleashed a stunning strike to put Austria ahead. However, Jordan, making their World Cup debut, refused to be intimidated and responded positively after the break. Just five minutes into the second half, Ali Olwan restored parity with a beautifully curled effort, rewarding an encouraging performance from the Asian side.
Austria thought they had regained the advantage through veteran forward Marko Arnautovic after Jordan goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila failed to properly deal with a corner kick. The former Stoke City and West Ham United striker reacted quickest to finish the loose ball, but the celebrations were cut short after a VAR review revealed the ball had struck the arm of Stefan Posch in the build-up, leading to the goal being disallowed.
The setback did little to derail Austria’s momentum. With 14 minutes remaining, they went back in front when Jordan defender Yazan Al Arab inadvertently flicked the ball into his own net following another dangerous corner. Austria continued to push forward and eventually put the result beyond doubt deep into stoppage time when Arnautovic converted a penalty after Saleem Obaid was penalised for handball.
The victory ends a 35-year wait for a World Cup finals win for Austria, whose last success came in a 2-1 triumph over the United States on June 19, 1990. Attention now turns to a heavyweight clash against defending champions Argentina on Monday, after Lionel Messi’s hat-trick inspired a 3-0 victory over Algeria and moved him level with Miroslav Klose on 16 World Cup goals.
For Jordan, ranked 67th in the world, there were encouraging signs despite defeat, but they will need a positive result against Algeria before concluding their group-stage campaign against Argentina.
