DR Congo produced one of the biggest results of the FIFA World Cup 2026 so far, holding Portugal to a 1-1 draw in their Group K opener and securing the nation’s first-ever point at a World Cup.

While Portugal dominated possession for much of the contest, the African side showcased remarkable discipline, resilience and organisation to frustrate Roberto Martinez’s men throughout the evening in Houston.

Portugal strike early through Joao Neves

The Portuguese made an ideal start when Joao Neves opened the scoring in the fifth minute.

Pedro Neto’s cross found the midfielder inside the box and Neves guided a precise header into the net to put the favourites ahead. Portugal then settled into their familiar possession-based approach, patiently moving the ball around while looking for openings against DR Congo’s compact defensive setup.

Bruno Fernandes came close to doubling the lead, while Bernardo Silva was booked during a competitive opening half.

Despite conceding early, DR Congo remained composed and gradually began to threaten on the counterattack.

Wissa creates history before half-time

The African side’s persistence paid off in dramatic fashion just before the interval.

Yoane Wissa capitalised on a rare opportunity to score DR Congo’s first-ever World Cup goal, stunning Portugal and sending the teams into the break level at 1-1.

Portugal denied repeatedly after the break

Portugal emerged with greater urgency in the second half and thought they had restored their lead when Joao Cancelo found the net shortly after the restart.

However, celebrations were cut short as the goal was ruled out for offside following a VAR review.

The Portuguese continued to push forward, but DR Congo remained dangerous on the counter. Cedric Bakambu nearly completed the turnaround when he struck the post, while Diogo Costa was forced into several important saves to keep Portugal level.

Martinez responded with attacking substitutions, introducing Francisco Conceicao, Rafa Leao, Nelson Semedo and later Goncalo Ramos as Portugal searched desperately for a winner.

Ronaldo frustrated as Congo hold firm

Portugal created enough opportunities to win the game but lacked their usual clinical edge in front of goal.

Ronaldo endured a frustrating evening, missing a pair of good chances in the final half-hour, including one effort that drifted wide despite Bruno Fernandes being in a better position behind him.

As the clock ticked down, DR Congo disrupted Portugal’s rhythm with clever game management and committed defending. Wissa remained a constant outlet on the counterattack, while the backline dealt effectively with wave after wave of Portuguese pressure.

Even a late corner in stoppage time failed to rescue Portugal, with Bruno Fernandes’ delivery comfortably claimed by the goalkeeper.

Historic point for DR Congo

When the final whistle arrived, DR Congo celebrated a landmark achievement. After scoring their first World Cup goal earlier in the night, they also secured their first-ever World Cup point.

For Portugal, the draw represents a disappointing start in a group that also contains Colombia and Uzbekistan. For DR Congo, however, this was a night that will be remembered as one of the greatest results in the country’s football history.

Mercedes Mone has been active on her social media once again since her AEW return earlier this month. She has been reacting to the ongoing happenings around her on social media platforms. But recently, a heartwarming post of a male AEW star caught the attention of The CEO.

AEW star Rush recently took to Instagram to wish his daughter a very happy birthday. The 37-year-old shared a few pictures with his daughter with a heartwarming caption that thanked god for all the happiness in their lives. He called his daughter a blessing and wished her happiness for the rest of her life.

Check out Rush’s post below:

In the comment section, Mercedes Mone called the father-daughter duo cute. She seems to be expressing her admiration for the bond between Rush and his daughter. Apart from The CEO, many AEW fans wished the little girl a very happy birthday.

“Too cute.” Posted Mercedes Mone.

Check out Mone’s comment below:

Mercedes Mone reflected on her AEW Dynamite return

Mercedes Mone made her return to All Elite Wrestling on the June 3rd episode of AEW Dynamite. She was absent from the Jacksonville-based promotion since the beginning of 2026. Recently, the former TBS Champion gave her thoughts on her comeback to the company.

Mone took to her newsletter, Mone Mag, to call out the AEW fans as impatient. She revealed that she had been on vacation for the past six months. However, fans were eager for her return without any reason. The former WWE star believes people cannot wait for surprises anymore, which is making it difficult to keep things under wraps.

“Y’all are the type of people who look up the ending of a movie before finishing it. You love not being surprised. You love not being present and fully in the moment because you’re so caught up in the fantasy. But now the wait is over,” Mone wrote.

With that said, Mone is back in the mix in All Elite Wrestling. She has been competing in the Owen Hart Cup lately. The CEO will square off with Hazuki in the semi-finals of the tournament on tonight’s edition of AEW Dynamite.