Houston, June 22: Portugal will look to register their first win of the 2026 FIFA World Cup when they take on tournament debutants Uzbekistan in a crucial Group K encounter at Houston Stadium on Tuesday.
The Portuguese side entered the tournament among the favourites but were held to a 1-1 draw by DR Congo in their opening match. Joao Neves gave Portugal an early lead before Yoane Wissa struck back to earn the Africans a share of the points.The result has placed Roberto Martinez’s men third in Group K after the first round of matches, increasing the pressure on them to deliver against Uzbekistan.Much of the focus has been on captain Cristiano Ronaldo following a subdued performance against DR Congo.
The veteran forward played the entire match but failed to register a shot on target, drawing criticism as Portugal struggled to convert their dominance into victory. (Agencies)
