Portugal face Uzbekistan for the first time at a World Cup

The Seleção das Quinas and the Uzbek debutants meet this Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at Houston Stadium, in an unprecedented clash in World Cup history. Portugal arrive under pressure after a frustrating draw in their opener. The opponent? Unfamiliar, but not harmless.

A disappointing opener puts Portugal on alert

The 1-1 draw with the Democratic Republic of Congo was not just a slip in the result – it was a tactical warning. With 75% possession and 724 completed passes, Portugal dominated the statistics, but not the scoreboard. Worse: they went 27 minutes, from the 40th to the 67th minute, without even attempting a shot.

Cristiano Ronaldo played all 90 minutes, took three shots and had just 25 touches of the ball – the worst figure in any match of at least 70 minutes he has played in major tournaments, across an entire career of 43 games in that format. The excessive reliance on the number 7 for crosses into the box is starting to look like a structural limit rather than a one-off.

Uzbekistan: a bold debutant

Uzbekistan played at a World Cup for the first time – a historic moment for a federation still young on the global stage. The performance was uneven, but the team showed attacking courage. Just five touches in the opponent’s box reveal where the side still needs to grow.

The tendency to take risks could open up space for Portugal to score early. But that same style could also bring scares for the Portuguese defense, which was not particularly solid in the opening round.

What to expect from the clash

The odds point to Portugal as a heavy favorite: -600 on the moneyline leaves little room for doubt about what the market projects. The spread margin is at -1.5 goals for the Europeans. The goals total is set at 3.5, with the “over” slightly favored.

In the scorer props, Ronaldo appears as the favorite to score, but Gonçalo Ramos and João Félix follow close behind with very competitive odds. The big tactical question is whether Roberto Martínez will free up Bruno Fernandes to take more of a leading role – fewer crosses for the veteran, more shots from the Manchester United midfielder. Portugal have the talent to win big. They just need to find the balance.