Wednesday marks the final day of the opening games at the 2026 FIFA Mens World Cup and while it will be a tough act to follow Tuesday’s extravaganza, there will be plenty of star players who’ll do their best.Â
Led by Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal hopes its game against the DR Congo will be the first step of a long run. England vs. Croatia is one of the most anticipated group stage games after deep runs in major tournaments over the past decade.Â
Ghana and Panama will meet in the third game as the Black Stars could once again surprise in this tournament. The final opening game will see a Colombian team looking to get back on track when it takes on an Uzbekistan team that will likely be full of energy, coached by an Italian legend.Â
Portugal vs. DR Congo: How to Watch
When: Wednesday, June 17, 1 p.m. ET
Where: Houston
TV: FOX
Stream: Watch three days free on FOX One
Group K gets underway on Wednesday with Portugal opening its much-anticipated World Cup campaign against DR Congo in Houston.Â
Ranked fifth in the latest FIFA World Rankings, much of the teams spotlight is on Cristiano Ronaldo, who will be playing in his sixth World Cup. At 41, Ronaldo is set to become the second-oldest outfield player in World Cup history behind only Cameroon legend Roger Milla, who played in the 1994 tournament in the United States at the age of 42.
For Ronaldo, this is likely his last opportunity to win the tournament. His international career has been defined by leading Portugal to the 2016 European Championship. At the World Cup, the furthest he reached was the semifinals in 2006. In the four tournaments since, Portugal has had two group stage exits, one elimination from the Round of 16, and one quarterfinal exit.Â
But Portugal is showing signs of returning to the worlds elite under head coach Roberto Martinez, who was hired in 2023. At Euro 2024, Portugal won its group and then advanced to the quarterfinals before being stopped by France on penalties. Portugal won the 2024-25 UEFA Nations League with a win over Germany in the semifinal, followed by a win over Spain on penalties in the final. Finally, the Portuguese won their World Cup qualifying group with ease, outscoring opponents 20-7 over six games.Â
Ronaldo has shown few signs of aging in recent years. Under Martinez, Ronaldo has made 26 appearances and scored 22 goals for Portugal, with many goals coming in important games.Â
Of course, Ronaldo has a strong supporting case that includes top playmaker Bruno Fernandes, 31, of Manchester United and Real Madrid-bound midfielder Bernardo Silva, 31, who will be playing in his third World Cup.
Like Ronaldo, Silva and Fernandes might also be playing in their final World Cup. After this tournament, Portugal might see a massive change of the guard. Â
Ranked No. 46 in the FIFA World Rankings, the DR Congo returns to the World Cup for the first time since 1974, when the country was called Zaire. While it was a significant accomplishment to become the first Sub-Saharan African team to qualify for the World Cup, Zaire was outscored by its opponents 14-0.Â
DR Congo qualified for the World Cup after finishing second in CAF Group B behind Senegal. That put the Leopards into the intercontinental playoff, where they prevailed 1-0 over Jamaica.Â
Most of the DR Congo consists of players who currently play for European clubs. Nine players played in Europes traditional top five leagues in the 2025-26 season.Â
The teams attack is led by Yoane Wissa, who joined Newcastle United in 2025 for a £50 million transfer fee. Real Betis striker Cédric Bakambu, 35, has a lot of experi
