Portugal were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo in their opening Group K match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as the African side earned a historic point in Houston on Wednesday.

The Portuguese made a bright start and took the lead in the sixth minute when midfielder João Neves headed home from a Pedro Neto cross. The early goal appeared to put Roberto Martínez’s side on course for victory as they dominated possession and controlled much of the first half.

However, DR Congo responded with determination and found an equaliser in first-half stoppage time. Forward Yoane Wissa rose to score with a powerful header, registering the country’s first-ever World Cup goal and ensuring the teams went into the break level at 1-1.

Portugal enjoyed the majority of possession after the interval but struggled to create clear-cut opportunities against a disciplined Congolese defence. Despite featuring veteran captain Cristiano Ronaldo, who made history by appearing in his sixth FIFA World Cup, the European side could not find a winning goal.

The result marked a significant achievement for DR Congo, who are competing at the World Cup for the first time since 1974, when they participated as Zaire. The draw also earned the Central African nation its first-ever point at the tournament.

Speaking after the match, DR Congo coach Sébastien Desabre praised his team’s resilience and tactical discipline, noting that his players overcame early nerves to secure a valuable result against one of the tournament’s favourites.

The draw leaves Group K finely balanced ahead of the next round of matches, with Portugal set to face Uzbekistan while DR Congo take on Colombia.