Emerging
Jun 22, 2026 Major8
99%
Portugal face Uzbekistan in must-win World Cup clash as Ronaldo seeks redemption
Portugal must beat Uzbekistan on Tuesday in Houston to keep their World Cup knockout hopes alive after a shock 1–1 draw with Congo DR. Cristiano Ronaldo, goalless in 10 major tournament appearances, faces mounting scrutiny, but coach Roberto Martínez insists the team is united and focused.


Quick Facts
Who
Cristiano Ronaldo
What
Portugal face Uzbekistan in Group K World Cup match
When
Tuesday, June 23, 2026
Where
NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas, USA
- Portugal face Uzbekistan in Group K World Cup match
- Portugal seeking first win after opening 1-1 draw with Congo DR
- Cristiano Ronaldo under scrutiny after poor performance in opener
- Uzbekistan seeking first World Cup point after 3-1 loss to Colombia
- Cristiano Ronaldo
Portugal will take on Uzbekistan on Tuesday at NRG Stadium in Houston in a crucial Group K match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the pre-tournament favourites needing a victory to revive their campaign after a disappointing 1–1 draw against Congo DR in their opener.
Portugal dominated possession against Congo DR, completing 783 passes and holding 75% of the ball—the highest of any team in the tournament—but managed only seven shots and just one on target, a sixth-minute header from João Neves. The lack of creativity and finishing in the final third has drawn sharp criticism, with much of the focus falling on captain Cristiano Ronaldo, who has now gone ten major tournament appearances without a goal.
Coach Roberto Martínez has publicly defended the 41-year-old forward, calling him a “role model” and insisting that “the numbers support him” regarding his movement and ability to create space for teammates. However, Martínez declined to confirm whether Ronaldo would start against Uzbekistan, saying he had not informed his players of the lineup. Reports indicate that winger Francisco Conceição could be brought into the starting XI to add more attacking impetus, while central defender Rúben Dias is expected to return after recovering from a knock.
Uzbekistan, making their World Cup debut, lost 3–1 to Colombia in their first match but showed signs of improvement in the second half. Coach Fabio Cannavaro, a World Cup winner with Italy in 2006, acknowledged his team had been too tense in their opener but urged them to play with more fighting spirit against Portugal. “We have nothing to lose,” Cannavaro said. “We will try to do our best and stay in the game until the end.” Uzbekistan’s main threat is expected to come from counterattacks and set pieces, after forward Abbosbek Fayzullaev scored his country’s first World Cup goal against Colombia.
A win for Portugal would put them level on points with Colombia at the top of Group K and ease pressure ahead of their final group match. A draw or loss would leave them facing a tense finale against Colombia and potentially risk elimination. Colombia will face Congo DR in the other group match on Tuesday, and a second consecutive victory would seal their place in the knockout stage.
The match kicks off at 1 p.m. ET (17:00 GMT) and will be broadcast by Fox, Telemundo, and Peacock in the United States.
Why This Matters
Portugal's survival in the 2026 World Cup hangs on this match. A loss or draw could leave them needing a miracle in the final group game against Colombia, potentially causing early elimination for a pre-tournament favorite. For Ronaldo, this is a chance to silence critics and rediscover his scoring touch on one of the biggest stages in sports.
Timeline & Sources
Jun 16, 2026
WirePortugal draw 1-1 vs Congo DR in Group K opener
Jun 16, 2026
WireUzbekistan lose 3-1 vs Colombia in Group K opener
Jun 22, 2026
WirePortugal draws 1-1 with Congo in World Cup opener; Ronaldo struggles
Jun 22, 2026
WirePortugal hold pre-match press conference in Houston
Jun 23, 2026
WireMartínez declines to confirm Ronaldo's start; Uzbekistan warns of Ronaldo's threat
Jun 23, 2026
WirePortugal vs Uzbekistan at NRG Stadium
Jun 23, 2026
WireColombia vs Congo DR later on Tuesday
Entities
- Fabio Cannavaro
- Vitinha
- Eldor Shomurodov
- Houston
- Cristiano Ronaldo
- Portugal national football team
- Colombia national football team
- Texas
- Abbosbek Fayzullaev
- Bruno Fernandes
- Francisco Conceição
- Uzbekistan national football team
- Congo DR national football team
- João Neves
- Yoane Wissa
- Luis Díaz
- USA
- Congo national football team
- Rúben Dias
- Roberto Martínez
- NRG Stadium
Sources
- World Cup Schedule Results News 360ac130de1b6c3f5ab8e2e1f86466e6apWireJun 22, 2026
- Portugal Cristiano Ronaldo World Cup 1836249810fdc74d0967772618ce148dapWireJun 23, 2026
- Portugal Cristiano Ronaldo World Cup Dbe9a27d550576aadbe94055e2278ff6apWireJun 23, 2026
- Portugal 'more united' than ever, says Roberto MartinezESPN IndiaMediaJun 23, 2026
- 为出线也为面子 葡萄牙战乌兹别克斯坦非胜不可zaobaoMediaJun 23, 2026
- Portugal vs. Uzbekistan at World Cup 2026: TV channel, how to watch, kick-off time, live stream, referee, predicted line-upsESPN IndiaMediaJun 23, 2026
- Ronaldo, Portugal play Uzbekistan in World Cup: prediction and team newsAl JazeeraMediaJun 23, 2026
- Portugal vs. Uzbekistan—World Cup: Preview, Predictions and LineupsSports IllustratedMediaJun 23, 2026