Congo stun Portugal with historic 1-1 draw in 2026 World Cup opener
Congo National Team earn a memorable point against Portugal National Team thanks to a historic goal from Yoane Wissa
Joel Casillas
6/17/20261 min read
Portugal drops points in World Cup debut
The Portugal National Team opened its 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a disappointing 1-1 draw against the Congo National Team.
The match marked what could be the final World Cup appearance for Cristiano Ronaldo, alongside a talented Portuguese squad featuring João Neves, Bernardo Silva and Rafael Leão.
João Neves strikes early
Portugal started exactly as expected. In the 5th minute, João Neves scored the opening goal and gave the European side an early advantage.
At that point, a comfortable Portuguese victory seemed likely.
Wissa creates history
Congo refused to back down. Deep into first-half stoppage time, Yoane Wissa scored the equalizer and recorded the first World Cup goal in Congo's history.
The goal completely changed the atmosphere of the match heading into halftime.
Portugal loses momentum
The second half became increasingly difficult for Portugal. Despite controlling possession, Roberto Martínez's side struggled to create clear chances and allowed Congo to grow in confidence.
The match evolved into an open contest with moments of frustration for the Portuguese players.
Ronaldo denied on several occasions
Cristiano Ronaldo had multiple opportunities to find the winning goal.
Each chance generated excitement from the crowd, but the Portuguese captain was unable to convert and add another World Cup goal to his legendary career.
Wan-Bissaka shines defensively
A key reason behind Congo's success was the outstanding performance of Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
The defender consistently shut down attacks on his side of the field and played a crucial role in preserving the result.
A historic point for Congo
For Portugal, the draw feels like two points lost.
For the Congo National Team, however, it represents one of the most significant results in the country's football history.
By earning a point against one of the tournament favorites, Congo proved that every team at this World Cup is capable of producing surprises.