It's a bad way to start. Portugal still have the squad to win this group, but a draw against the lowest-ranked team in the pool means the margin for error is basically gone. Vitinha and Bernardo Silva controlled possession without ever cracking a deep block, and the lack of a Plan B once Congo settled in was the story. Martínez has work to do before matchday 2.
DR Congo's first World Cup appearance since 1974 — when they were Zaïre — and they walked out of Houston with the first point and first goal in country history. The structure was the story: Tuanzebe, Mbembe and Kapuadi protected Mpasi-Nzau, Wan-Bissaka and Masuaku stayed tight on the flanks, and Portugal got nothing easy after the 6th minute.
The goal was a beauty of a set piece. Short corner, ball whipped back in, Wissa got across his man and finished in the 45+5th minute for the equalizer that sent the Congolese end of NRG into orbit. Bakambu nearly stole all 3 points in the 57th, rattling the post from close range. A historic afternoon, and suddenly Group K is wide open.
Polymarket had Portugal at 77% to win and Congo at 7.5%. The result lands closer to the 17% draw price than anyone in red wanted. This was a clean miss by the favorites — not a robbery, not a freak result, just Portugal failing to put a 9th-ranked team away after taking an early lead.
The live group market now has Colombia ahead of Portugal at the top of Group K, and Portugal's round-of-16 number sits at 74.5% — still favored, no longer comfortable. DR Congo move from afterthought to live underdog with a point on the board. Portugal next face the pressure of needing a result against a Colombia side that just leapfrogged them; Congo get a chance to chase qualification proper.
Spain0-1
Croatia2-1
Colombia0-0
Uzbekistan5-0
DR Congo1-1
England1-2Uzbekistan3-1Colombia0-1Portugal1-1