52-Year Wait Ends as DR Congo Shock Portugal Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal were held to a 1-1 draw by a resilient DR Congo side in their 2026 FIFA World Cup Group K opener, with Yoane Wissa’s late header cancelling out Joao Neves’ early strike.
Portugal’s 2026 World Cup campaign hit a speed bump on Wednesday as a defiant DR Congo side fought back for a 1-1 draw, leaving Cristiano Ronaldo and company without the winning start they’d hoped for in Group K
Things looked rosy early on. Joao Neves nodded Portugal into the lead in the sixth minute, rising to meet Pedro Neto’s cross and beating goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi-Nzau. From there, it seemed like business as usual for the European heavyweights.
But DR Congo had other plans. Refusing to fold under the pressure of facing one of the tournament favourites, the Leopards grew steadily into the game and struck gold deep in first-half stoppage time. Yoane Wissa finished emphatically from close range, latching onto Arthur Masuaku’s delivery to level things up, and in doing so, handed his country their first-ever World Cup point.
PM NEWS reported that the draw leaves Portugal with their work cut out in a group that also features Colombia and Uzbekistan, while DR Congo will take real confidence into their remaining fixtures as they chase a spot in the knockout stages.
For Ronaldo, it was a frustrating evening all around. The veteran forward, playing in his record-tying sixth World Cup, struggled to find rhythm and was repeatedly shut down by a disciplined Congolese back line that refused to budge.
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