Portugal vs DR Congo Kick-off time in India, USA, UK, Australia & more for FIFA World Cup 2026
DR Congo to face Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal on World Cup return.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, football’s most prestigious tournament, has made its grand return after a four-year absence. Co-hosted by the USA, Mexico and Canada, the competition is featuring a record 48 nations, increasing the stakes for the ultimate trophy.
The newest edition has witnessed a new trend, where big teams have failed to produce the expected results, while some of the overlooked teams have made a massive mark. Aiming to break it, heavyweights Portugal will be taking on DR Congo in the highly anticipated Group K opener at Houston Stadium in Texas, USA.
Portugal will have to make a huge impact after a disappointing 2022 campaign in Qatar, where, despite topping a difficult group, before ultimately falling to Morocco in the semi-finals.
The team will have massive expectations upon them after enjoying a highly successful 2026 UEFA qualification campaign, finishing at the top of their qualifier group, scoring an incredible 20 goals from only six matches. Iconic forward Cristiano Ronaldo has been tasked with guiding the nation to their first-ever World Cup title, aiming to draw curtains to his legendary international career with the most coveted title in the sport.
Portugal are placed in Group K of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, considered a challenging route for the European side. They will compete alongside the DR Congo, Uzbekistan, and Colombia.
DR Congo are all set for their historic World Cup return, making their last tournament appearance 52 years ago in 1974, when the nation competed under the name Zaire. They secured their spot after a gruelling qualification campaign, overcoming the CAF playoffs against Nigeria and the Interconfederational playoff final against Jamaica, to become the final nation to confirm their World Cup status.
FIFA World Cup 2026, Portugal vs DR Congo: Kick-off time
- USA / Canada (EDT): 1:00 PM (Wednesday, June 17)
- Mexico (CST): 11:00 AM (Wednesday, June 17)
- Argentina (ART): 2:00 PM (Wednesday, June 17)
- Algeria / DR Congo (WAT): 6:00 PM (Wednesday, June 17)
- UK (BST): 6:00 PM (Wednesday, June 17)
- India (IST): 10:30 PM (Wednesday, June 17)
- Egypt (EEST): 8:00 PM (Wednesday, June 17)
- Kenya (EAT): 8:00 PM (Wednesday, June 17)
- Australia (AEST): 3:00 AM (Thursday, June 18)
Where to watch Portugal vs DR Congo live in India?
Portugal vs DR Congo will be streamed live on Zee5 in India.
Where will Portugal vs DR Congo be played?
The game will be played at the Houston Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
Who won the last head-to-head encounter between Portugal and DR Congo?
This will be the first encounter between these two nations.
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Basil Elias Benoy is a sports journalist with a deep passion for football, cricket, and kabaddi. A devoted supporter of Manchester United and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, he combines his academic background in Economics with hands-on experience in sports media. His work ranges from professional sports content creation for digital platforms to on-ground reporting for Indian Super League club Kerala Blasters.