At NRG Stadium in Houston, Portugal begins their Group K journey against DR Congo in what promises to be a classic World Cup opener.
The Portuguese side, managed by Roberto Martínez, came into the tournament in strong form and with real expectations of challenging for the title, backed by an impressive qualifying campaign featuring 20 goals in six games. DR Congo, meanwhile, steps into the spotlight as underdogs aiming to disrupt one of the competition’s elite teams.
Have a read of our Portugal vs Congo DR prediction before you decide on your bet.
Portugal vs Congo DR prediction for the 2026 World Cup
Both nations begin their 2026 World Cup here, with no head-to-head history to lean on. For bettors, this is as open as it gets, and the odds mirror that uncertainty.
Take a look at our top Portugal vs Congo DR prediction:
BTTS - No
Who are the favourites?
Based on the leading UK-licensed bookmakers, Portugal is tipped to come out on top, with 72% of the odds leaning towards their win.
Looking for more? Browse all the World Cup odds and dig into this and other ties from the planet's biggest football tournament.
Portugal vs Congo DR: head-to-head
Portugal and Congo DR share no recent head-to-head record, so this is effectively their first meeting in years.
Portugal: opening the 2026 World Cup
Portugal make their FIFA World Cup bow having already logged 10 match(es) in 2026 in the build-up. Here is how they have fared:
7 win(s), 2 draw(s) and 1 loss(es)
26 goals scored (2.6 per game)
9 goals conceded (0.9 per game)
Players to watch for Portugal National Team
Leading scorer: Cristiano Ronaldo with 5 goal(s)
Most assists: Bruno Fernandes with 2
Congo DR: opening the 2026 World Cup
Congo DR step out at the FIFA World Cup for the first time this edition after 15 match(es) in 2026.
Here is the Congo DR National Team record:
This year so far
10 win(s), 3 draw(s) and 2 loss(es)
20 goals scored (1.33 per game)
7 goals conceded (0.47 per game)
Players to watch for Congo DR National Team
Leading scorer: Cédric Bakambu with 4 goal(s)
Most assists: Yoane Wissa with 3
Portugal vs Congo DR statistics at the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Before you stake anything, look over the side-by-side comparison that sheds light on each nation's current form for this World Cup tie:
Portugal
International - World Cup
Congo DR
International - World Cup
Portugal vs Congo DR probable lineups
See the likely starting elevens below for our Portugal vs Congo DR prediction at the 2026 World Cup.
Portugal: Costa, Cancelo, Dias, Inácio, Mendes, Silva, Vitinha, Fernandes, Neto, Ronaldo, Leão
DR Congo: Mpasi, Wan-Bissaka, Tuanzebe, Mbemba, Masuaku, Moutoussamy, Kayembe, Kakuta, Bongonda, Elia, Wissa
How to watch Portugal vs Congo DR live in the UK
Find out below where you can catch Portugal vs Congo DR live during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Just remember, kick-off is at 18:00 UK time.
For the full schedule, check our our World Cup live streaming page.
More betting tips for this match
Alongside the main tip given at the top of this article, here are some other strong bets for Portugal vs Congo DR:
Further 2026 World Cup predictions
Browse all of our 2026 FIFA World Cup predictions and keep up with the sharpest analysis from start to finish of the tournament.
Match details: Portugal vs Congo DR
🆚 Fixture Portugal vs Congo DR
🏆 Tournament 2026 FIFA World Cup
📅 Date Wednesday, 17/06/2026
🕐 Kick-off 18:00 UK time
🏟️ Venue NRG Stadium, Houston
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Sports betting analyst with over 15 years of experience. At APWin, he writes football predictions, reviews bookmakers and explains the reasoning behind every bet.