Portugal held to 1-1 draw by DR Congo in their World Cup 2026 opener

Portugal drew 1-1 with DR Congo in their opening match for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers on June 6, 2024. Joao Neves scored the first goal for Portugal in the 13th minute, assisted by Bernardo Silva. However, DR Congo equalized in first-half injury time through a penalty converted by Yoane Wissa after a handball by Nuno Mendes. The match took place at the Estádio Municipal de Leiria. Portugal, ranked 6th in the FIFA rankings, faced a DR Congo team positioned 64th. This result marks an unexpected start for Portugal in their qualification campaign. Coach Roberto Martinez expressed disappointment with the draw, stating that the team needs to improve their efficiency in front of goal. The next match for Portugal is against Slovenia on June 11, 2024.