- Portugal are unbeaten in five matches, winning four times.
- DR Congo have just one win in their last three away matches, suffering a recent 1-2 home defeat to Chile.
- Portugal are a much more creative and talented side than DR Congo.
Martinez has moulded a new Portugal
Portugal should justify their heavy odds for a Group K opener against DR Congo in Houston this Wednesday. Roberto Martinez has made them a possession team, which has been very successful in its recent victories against USA (0-2 away), Chile (2-1 home) and Nigeria (2-1 home) in the Friendly International Matches 2026. Portugal have won seven, drawn two and lost just one of their last 10 matches in all competitions and the momentum is all on their side going into this tournament, which will be a tough one to make the last 16 in.
DR Congo will need to be at their best to spring an upset here as they have only won twice in the last five matches. Sebastien Desabre's side, who are appearing in their first World Cup since 1974, are a defensive team, set up in a 4-1-4-1 system with a solid defensive structure and wide forwards who can hurt teams on the break with their pace and directness. They have won six, drawn two and lost two of their last 10 in all competitions, a slightly disappointing run in which they failed to build any momentum before this tournament.
Congo are a decent overall unit
This is a classic possession vs transition game and we like Portugal to be patient and eventually break through against a disciplined opponent. DR Congo will be as compact as they have ever been against any team and will look to nick a goal on the counterattack, but Portugal have the quality to punish them.
DR Congo's away form is a reasonable W3, D2, L1 in their last six, so they aren't a bad away unit. But it is the quality of the players that makes the Portuguese the only playable side here at 31/100. The draw is a huge 47/10, which would have been very tempting at any other venue than Houston Stadium, USA.
Go for goals when Portugal are at Houston Stadium
As the draw is so short, we are going to go for the overs option here as the odds for Over 2.5 goals are more attractive at 13/20. Portugal have been scoring plenty of goals recently, averaging 3.20 per home game in all competitions, while they have scored 16 goals in their last five home games.
DR Congo are also capable of scoring on the road, netting 10 goals in their last six away from home in all competitions. Gael Kakuta has scored two of their last four goals, making him their main attacking threat, while the likes of Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva are Portugal's engines, providing the final third with plenty of creativity and quality.
Cristiano Ronaldo may be their talisman and will always be a threat in big games, but we are tipping Portugal to win this match against a side that are a little over their heads in this competition.
