Portugal holds Congo to draw on World Cup debut

Portugal made its long-awaited FIFA World Cup debut on Wednesday evening in Houston, Texas, facing a Republic of Congo side that arrived with a reputation for tactical resilience and physical intensity. The match, played at NRG Stadium under clear skies and 32°C heat, marked the first competitive outing for Roberto Martínez’s squad in the expanded 48-team tournament, and it came under the long shadow cast by Lionel Messi’s record-breaking performances elsewhere in the group.

Portugal’s starting line-up was reshaped by injury and late tactical decisions. Centre-back Rúben Dias was ruled out and replaced by Gonçalo Inácio, while Bruno Fernandes lined up in midfield despite reports of pre-match nerves. Martínez, speaking earlier in Palm Beach, insisted the group was “united in one voice,” a message echoed in team-mate quotes carried by local media. The coach’s optimism was tempered by the knowledge that Congo, ranked 54th in the FIFA world rankings, had already shown in training sessions that they favour a high-pressing 3-5-2 system designed to disrupt possession football.

The opening exchanges were nervy. Fernandes, wearing the captain’s armband in Dias’s absence, sprayed passes but was repeatedly closed down by Congo’s wing-backs. The first real chance fell to Gonçalo Ramos in the 22nd minute, his header from a Fernandes cross brushing the outside of the post. Congo responded with a rapid counter that forced Diogo Costa into a sharp save from M’Bala Nzola, the striker’s shot deflected behind for a corner.

By the hour mark, the game had settled into a pattern: Portugal dominating possession but struggling to break down a disciplined back five. Martínez responded by introducing Rafael Leão and João Félix, a double substitution that shifted the tempo. Leão’s pace stretched the Congo defence in the 67th minute, creating space for Bernardo Silva to curl a shot just wide. In the 78th minute, Félix threaded a through-ball to Cristiano Ronaldo, who controlled under pressure before firing over the bar from 18 yards.

The final whistle brought a 0-0 draw, a result that leaves Portugal with a single point from their opening fixture. Congo’s coach, Belgian technician Marc Brys, claimed a moral victory, telling reporters that his side had “proved we belong on this stage.” Martínez, speaking to Portuguese media after the match, acknowledged the “frustrations of a team that created enough to win,” while conceding that “Congo defended with organisation and aggression.”

The result leaves Portugal second in Group B behind France, who earlier defeated Australia 3-0 in a match overshadowed by Kylian Mbappé’s brace and Erling Haaland’s debut goal for Norway. Messi, meanwhile, extended his own World Cup scoring record as Argentina beat Saudi Arabia 2-0 in a late-night fixture in Dallas. Portugal now face France on Monday in a must-win encounter that will determine whether they advance to the knockout rounds as group winners or runners-up.