World Cup opener : Portugal kick off their World Cup 2026 campaign on Wednesday evening with an opening match against DR Congo.

This highly anticipated Group K clash takes place at Houston Stadium in Texas.

Squad inclusion : Captain Cristiano Ronaldo is fully expected to feature in this opening fixture.

But his presence comes despite a controversial red card received during the qualification stages.

Qualifying match : The sending-off occurred during a qualification fixture against the Republic of Ireland in November 2025.