Democratic Republic of Congo secured a historic result at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after holding Portugal to a 1-1 draw in their Group K opener, earning their first-ever point at football’s biggest tournament.
The African side, appearing at the World Cup for the first time since 1974 when they competed as Zaire, delivered a resilient performance in Houston to frustrate a Portugal team led by veteran captain Cristiano Ronaldo.
Portugal appeared to be on course for a comfortable victory after taking an early lead in the sixth minute. Pedro Neto delivered a dangerous cross into the area and Joao Neves rose highest to power a headerz past the Congolese goalkeeper.
The early breakthrough allowed Portugal to dominate possession, but Roberto Martinez’s side struggled to turn their control into clear scoring opportunities.
DR Congo gradually grew into the contest and were rewarded deep into first-half stoppage time. Yoane Wissa found space inside the penalty area and headed beyond goalkeeper Diogo Costa to score his country’s first-ever goal at a FIFA World Cup.
The equaliser sparked jubilant celebrations among the Congolese players and supporters, who sensed the possibility of a famous result against one of Europe’s traditional football powers.
Portugal pushed for a winner after the break, but DR Congo remained organised and dangerous on the counterattack. The African side nearly completed a remarkable turnaround when experienced striker Cedric Bakambu shrugged off his marker before striking the post.
Portugal thought they had regained the lead when Joao Cancelo found the net with an overhead kick, only for the effort to be ruled out for offside.
Ronaldo, making a record-equalling sixth World Cup appearance at the age of 41, endured a frustrating evening. The Portuguese star was largely kept quiet and missed two good opportunities created by Francisco Conceicao as DR Congo’s defence stood firm.
As the match wore on, Portugal became increasingly frustrated, with their attacking players unable to find a breakthrough against a determined Congolese backline.
The result marks a significant milestone for DR Congo, whose preparations for the tournament were disrupted by an Ebola outbreak back home. Despite the challenges, the Leopards produced one of the standout performances by an African nation at the tournament so far.
For Portugal, the draw represents a disappointing start to their World Cup campaign and leaves work to be done in the remaining Group K fixtures as they seek qualification for the knockout stages.
Meanwhile, DR Congo will take immense confidence from a result that not only earned them their first World Cup point but also demonstrated their ability to compete with some of the world’s biggest football nations.
Historic Wissa goal earns DR Congo first-ever World Cup point against Portugal
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