Portugal held to 1-1 draw by Congo in Group K opener

Portugal failed to protect its lead and had to settle for a 1-1 draw with the Democratic Republic of Congo in the opening match of the 2026 World Cup Group K at Houston Stadium in the United States on Thursday. Joao Neves gave Portugal the lead in the sixth minute, but Yoane Wissa equalized before halftime. Portugal coach Roberto Martinez said his team lost attacking variety and fluency in possession after scoring early. He said Congo's reply lifted the opponent's confidence and made the match much harder. Despite the disappointing result, Martinez said his players showed commitment until the final whistle and that the team could still learn a lot from the opening match.