Portugal vs DR Congo: Wissa’s History Goal Denies Ronaldo in a 1-1 Draw
Updated 17 June 2026.
Portugal vs DR Congo at World Cup 2026 finished 1-1, with João Neves’ early strike for Cristiano Ronaldo’s side cancelled out by Yoane Wissa’s stoppage-time equaliser, the first goal in DR Congo’s World Cup history. A frantic finish at NRG Stadium in Houston denied Portugal a winning start to Ronaldo’s sixth and farewell World Cup, and handed the debutants a point to remember.
| Match facts | Detail |
|---|---|
| Result | Portugal 1-1 DR Congo |
| Competition | World Cup 2026, Group K |
| Venue | NRG Stadium, Houston (att. 68,777) |
| Portugal scorer | João Neves 6′ |
| DR Congo scorer | Yoane Wissa 45+5′ |
| Cards | Bernardo Silva (Y, 13′), Mbemba (Y, 32′), Semedo (Y, 88′), Araújo (Y, 90+2′) |
How DR Congo earned a famous point
Portugal made the perfect start when João Neves finished from close range in the 6th minute, and for a long stretch the favourites looked set to cruise through their World Cup opener. DR Congo held firm, absorbed the pressure, and kept finding half-chances of their own without ever looking out of the contest.
The breakthrough came in the very last action of the first half. Yoane Wissa converted in the fifth minute of stoppage time to make it 1-1, sending the DR Congo bench into delirium and forcing Portugal to settle for a draw they had controlled for long periods. Four yellow cards, two for each side, underlined how physical the closing exchanges became.
Wissa writes DR Congo into the history books
Whatever happens next in Group K, Yoane Wissa’s name is now permanently attached to DR Congo’s World Cup story: their first-ever goal at the tournament, scored on their tournament debut against one of the favourites. It is exactly the kind of moment a debutant nation builds a campaign narrative around, and it leaves DR Congo with genuine belief heading into their next match.
What Portugal vs DR Congo World Cup 2026 means for Group K
Portugal sit level on a point with DR Congo after round one, with Cristiano Ronaldo’s last World Cup campaign already needing a response. Uzbekistan’s 1-3 defeat to Colombia on the same day means Group K is finely balanced after one round, with every side having taken something from their opener. Follow every table on our standings page.
What is next
Both sides return to Group K action, with kick-offs on our fixtures page and goals live on live scores. Catch up on the rest of the day’s Group K and L openers in our June 17 preview hub, revisit our pre-match preview, and see the format, venues and full schedule in our complete World Cup 2026 guide.
Frequently asked questions
What was the score in Portugal vs DR Congo?
Portugal and DR Congo drew 1-1 in their World Cup 2026 Group K opener on 17 June at NRG Stadium, Houston.
Who scored DR Congo’s first-ever World Cup goal?
Yoane Wissa scored DR Congo’s first goal at a World Cup, equalising in the fifth minute of first-half stoppage time against Portugal.
Who scored for Portugal against DR Congo?
João Neves opened the scoring for Portugal in the 6th minute, but DR Congo levelled before half-time to earn a 1-1 draw.
Source: 2026 FIFA World Cup Group K.
