The European giant Portugal is among the favorites to lift this trophy, as Cristiano Ronaldo has his last chance to win the World Cup. They face Congo DR in this campaign; even though their game might look easy on paper, Congo can cause an upset.
Which nation will win this game, or what betting markets are best for this game? At TopBets, we have analyzed the teams’ data and past games to provide you with the top predictions for the Portugal v Congo DR World Cup match. Continue reading below!
Portugal v Congo DR Preview
Portugal and Congo DR will face off for their 2026 World Cup campaign at NRG Stadium
in Houston, Texas, United States. Portugal has been in hot form as they are unbeaten in their last 5 games, while Congo DR has won just 1 of their last 5 games.
Both sides look ready for this 2026 World Cup tournament, but which team will get the precious points? Will that influence your betting on this game? Let’s see the match details.
Match Details
Here are the Portugal v Congo DR match details:
- Competition: FIFA World Cup 2026
- Matchday: Wednesday
- Date: 17th June, 2026
- Kick-off time: 6 PM Nigerian Time
- Venue: NRG Stadium (Houston, TX), USA.
Why this Match Matters
Portugal will be looking to lift their first World Cup, and being the last World Cup that Cristiano Ronaldo will play in, this game is very important for precious 3 points. Congo DR will be looking to avoid an embarrassing defeat in this game and possibly get precious points against this top side, which will boost their morale in this campaign.
Portugal v Congo DR Head-to-Head Stats
Portugal and Congo DR have not previously met in a competitive or friendly game. Below, we bring you their recent results:
Portugal’s Recent Form
The Portuguese national team has been in good form in their last 5 games; they have won 4 of their last 5 games, drawn the rest. Below is a table showcasing their last 5 matches:
Portugal’s Last Five Matches
| Date | Match | Result |
| 10/06/2026 | Portugal vs. Nigeria | Won 2-1 |
| 06/06/2026 | Portugal vs. Chile | Won 2-1 |
| 01/04/2026 | USA vs. Portugal | Won 0-2 |
| 29/03/2026 | Mexico vs. Portugal | Draw 0-0 |
| 16/11/2025 | Portugal vs. Armenia | Won 9-1 |
Goals Scored and Conceded
Across Portugal’s last 5 games, they have been good in both their attack and defense; they have scored 15 goals and conceded just 3 goals, with 2 clean sheets. Below is a breakdown of their recent goal statistics:
- Goals Scored: 15
- Goals Conceded: 3
- Clean Sheets: 2
Key Trends from Portugal’s Recent Matches
Going through Portugal’s recent games and past games, some interesting trends are clear, and we believe they should be taken seriously when betting on their 2026 World Cup matches. Below are the trends we found:
- Portugal are unbeaten in their last 5 games, winning 4 and drawing 1.
- The Portuguese national team have scored at least 2 goals in each of their last 4 games.
- Portugal have conceded only one goal and kept two clean sheets in their last 5 games.
Congo DR’s Recent Form
The Democratic Republic of Congo has been in mixed form in recent games, having won 2 of their last 5 games and lost 2. Below is a table showcasing their last 5 matches:
Croatia’s Last Five Matches
| Date | Match | Result |
| 09/06/2026 | D.R Congo vs. Chile | Lost 1-2 |
| 03/06/2026 | D.R Congo vs. Denmark | Draw 0-0 |
| 31/03/2026 | D.R Congo vs. Jamaica | Won 1-0 |
| 25/03/2026 | D.R Congo vs. Bermuda | Won 2-0 |
| 06/01/2026 | Algeria vs. D.R Congo | Lost 1-0 |
Goals Scored and Conceded
Across D.R. Congo’s last 5 games, they have found the net in 3 of their last 5 games but have also been solid at the back. They have scored 4 goals and conceded 3, with 3 clean sheets in their last 5 games. Below is a breakdown of their recent goal statistics:
- Goals Scored: 4
- Goals Conceded: 3
- Clean Sheets: 3
Key Trends from Congo DR’s Recent Matches
Going through Croatia’s previous games, some interesting trends are clear, and we believe these trends should impact your World Cup predictions on this team. Below are the trends we found:
- Congo DR has won just 2 of their last 5 games.
- In Congo DR’s last 5 games, they have not conceded more than 1 goal more than once.
- Congo DR have 3 clean sheets in their last 5 games.
Team News
Both national teams are expected to start their best players, and below we’ll share what to expect from the lineups.
Portugal Team News
There are some important team updates from the Portuguese camp, and below, we’ll share them:
Injuries
- There are no suspensions for Portugal ahead of this game.
Suspensions/Absentees
- There are no suspensions for Portugal ahead of this game.
Portugal’s Key Players to Watch
Portugal brought world-class players for their World Cup campaign, and some of them are:
- Cristiano Ronaldo remains Portugal’s biggest threat and headline attraction to this game. He is among the top 3 scorers in the history of football, and he will be the most dangerous player on the pitch.
- Bruno Fernandes is another top player in the Portugal squad. He is a creative midfielder who offers impressive attacking play.
- Vitinha is expected to control the match tempo from the midfield, and he is very important to this Portuguese side.
Congo DR’s Team News
Congo DR arrives at this World Cup with a very competitive, world-class squad, and they are expected to give their opponents a tough time.
Injuries
- There are no new injuries reported from Congo DR’s football camp.
Suspensions
- There are no suspensions reported from Congo DR’s football camp.
Congo DR’s Key Players to Watch
Congo DR’s national team brought top players to this World Cup campaign, and some of them are:
- Yoane Wissa provides a very dangerous attacking option for Congo in this game. He has good pace and directness in attack.
- Cedric Bakambu is Congo’s leading scorer, and he will be expected to cause an upset to the Portuguese side.
- Aaron Wa-Bissaka, a very good defender who has experience at the top level of football. We expect him to handle Portuguese attacks.
Predicted Lineups
Here are the predicted lineups for this Portugal v Congo DR 2026 World Cup clash.
Portugal’s Predicted XI
Goalkeeper: Diogo Costa
Defenders: Joao Cancelo, Ruben Dias, Goncalo Inacio, Nuno Mendes
Midfielders: Joao Neves, Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha, Bernardo Silva
Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo, Pedro Neto
Congo DR’s Predicted XI
Goalkeeper: Dimitry Mpasi
Defenders: Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Kapuadi, Axel Tuanzebe, Chancel Mbemba
Midfielders: Arthur Masuaku, Samuel Moutoussamy, Noah Sadiki, Mukau
Forwards: Yoane Wissa, Cedric Bakambu.
Best Betting Markets for Portugal v Congo DR
This game presents various betting opportunities, and going by their recent and past results, Topbets presents the following predictions below:
Match Winner Prediction
Both sides have top-quality players on the pitch, but Portugal looks more complete all over the pitch. They also have superior previous match performances, and we believe they’ll grab a win in this game.
Prediction: Portugal
Over/Under Goals
While Portugal’s recent games have seen plenty of goals scored, we expect a similar outcome in this game. Portugal have scored a whopping 15 goals in their last 5 games, and 3 of their last 5 games have been over 2.5 goals.
Prediction: Over 2.5 goals
Both teams to Score
Both teams have good attacks, but their defenses have been shaky. Both sides have kept clean sheets in 2 of their last 5 games. We expect goals from both sides because Congo DR have players that can upset the Portuguese defense.
Prediction: Yes
Anytime Goalscorer
Cristiano Ronaldo is the most potent goal scorer and dangerous player on the pitch, and we expect him to find the net in this game. He was in fine scoring form for Al Nassr last season.
Prediction: Cristiano Ronaldo
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Portugal v Congo DR Prediction
Still need more predictions for this clash? We’ve got you covered. Below are other prediction tips for this game.
Best Bet
Our best bet for this game would be over 20.5 shots in this game. Both teams are not evenly matched, as Portugal have more quality and should hit Congo with waves and waves of attack. Over 20.5 shots is expected in this game.
Prediction: Over 20.5 Shots
Correct Score Prediction
Portugal has been very effective going forward and limits their opponents greatly. Most of their recent games have ended with their opponents not scoring more than 1 goal, and with that in mind, we expect a 2-1 win for the Portuguese team.
Prediction: 2-1
Match Analysis and Verdict
Portugal are hopeful of lifting the World Cup, and they’ll need to make a statement start to their campaign. Congo DR has top players in key positions, but Portugal looks more prepared and has quality all around the pitch. We are expecting a comfortable win for them in this game.
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