TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Portugal is facing Uzbekistan in the second match of Group K at the 2026 World Cup at the Houston Stadium on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at midnight Jakarta time. The match, broadcast live by TVRI, will see Roberto Martinez's team striving for their first victory after being held to a draw by the Democratic Republic of Congo in the opening game.
Portugal currently sits in third place in the Group K standings. The team, known as Selecao das Quinas, failed to hold on to their lead in a 1-1 draw against DR Congo. Joao Neves' early goal in the sixth minute was canceled out by Yoane Wissa, forcing Portugal to settle for a point.
The result has led to criticism of captain Cristiano Ronaldo. The 41-year-old forward played the full 90 minutes but failed to register a single shot on target from his three attempts.
Ronaldo's performance has come under scrutiny for what is seen as a lack of impact in the match. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner has also not scored a goal in the World Cup since scoring against Ghana in the first group stage match of the 2022 World Cup.
Currently, Martinez is under pressure to guide Portugal back to a winning path against Uzbekistan. Portugal entered the tournament as one of the title contenders, so the draw in the opening match is deemed below expectations.
On the other hand, Uzbekistan is seeking to avoid an early exit in their debut appearance in the World Cup final. Fabio Cannavaro's team kicked off with a 1-3 loss to Colombia.
In that game, Uzbekistan briefly leveled the score through Abbosbek Fayzullaev. The goal came after Eldor Shomurodov's shot was blocked and rebounded in front of the goal, allowing Fayzullaev to head it into an empty net.
The goal made history as Uzbekistan's first-ever in the World Cup. However, they could only maintain the draw for five minutes before Luis Diaz restored Colombia's lead.
The State of Uzbekistan and Portugal Teams
As quoted from Sportsmole, Portugal may be reinforced by Ruben Dias in the match against Uzbekistan. The Manchester City defender was absent from the starting lineup in the opening game against DR Congo due to not being in his best physical condition.
Coach Roberto Martinez previously revealed that Dias had not fully recovered from a minor injury. However, the 29-year-old center-back may feature in the second Group K match.
Still, Martinez could choose not to take the risk. Portugal boasts sufficient depth in defense, allowing Dias to be saved for the final game against Colombia.
Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to remain the main choice upfront despite receiving much criticism after his performance in the first match.
In the Uzbekistan camp, Khojiakbar Alijonov is among the players who may feature in the starting lineup. Coach Fabio Cannavaro is still considering several options to improve his team's chances of earning points against Portugal.
Despite the loss to Colombia in the opening game, Cannavaro is not expected to make many changes. Utkir Yusupov is likely to guard Uzbekistan's goal, while the duo of Abdukodir Khusanov and Rustam Ashurmatov are predicted to once again be the mainstays in defense.
Expected Lineups
Portugal (4-3-3): Diogo Costa; Joao Cancelo, Tomas Araujo, Renato Veiga, Nuno Mendes; Joao Neves, Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes; Bernardo Silva, Pedro Neto, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Uzbekistan (3-4-3): Utkir Yusupov; Abdukodir Khusanov, Abdulla Abdullaev, Rustam Ashurmatov; Karimov, Oston Urunov Mozgovoy, Oybek Shukurov, Nasrullaev; Abbosbek Fayzullaev, Oston Urunov, Eldor Shomurodov.
Prediction
This match will mark the first meeting between Portugal and Uzbekistan. For Portugal, it is crucial to secure a victory to maintain their chances of reaching the knockout stage and silence criticism following the draw in the opening game. On the other hand, Uzbekistan must avoid defeat if they are to keep alive their hopes of progressing to the knockout phase.
On paper, Portugal is favored due to the depth of their squad and the quality of their individual players. Roberto Martinez's team is also determined to improve their performance after managing only one shot on target against DR Congo. Although Uzbekistan could pose a challenge, Portugal is expected to secure three points from this match.
Read: Norway vs Senegal World Cup Lineups: A Battle of the Strikers
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
Three Countries, One World Cup, but Why?
18 menit lalu
If FIFA wanted to showcase football at its very best, why did it decide that the FIFA World Cup 2026 should be hosted by three countries?
Messi on Missed Penalty vs. Austria: 'Maybe I Wouldn't Have Scored More'
1 jam lalu
Lionel Messi turned a missed penalty into a brace as Argentina beat Austria 2-0 in their 2026 World Cup Group J match.
Norway vs Senegal World Cup Lineups: A Battle of the Strikers
7 jam lalu
Norwegian national team will face the Senegal national team in a Group I match at the 2026 World Cup at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey, on Tuesday
Nadiem Amiri: 'Never thought I'd be at the World Cup'
9 jam lalu
The Mainz midfielder with Afghan roots has become a key member of Germany's 2026 World Cup squad.
World Cup Roundup: Messi Breaks Scoring Record as Argentina Beat Austria 2-0, Mbappe Inspires France 3-0 Win Over Iraq
10 jam lalu
Lionel Messi scores two goals as Argentina defeats Austria in the 2026 World Cup, while Kylian Mbappe scored twice to lead France to 3-0 win over Iraq
Portugal Under No Obligation to Feed Ronaldo the Ball
22 jam lalu
Portugal winger Francisco Conceicao dismisses claims of overreliance on Cristiano Ronaldo, stressing that the team is not obliged to always feed the captain.
France vs Iraq World Cup 2026: Match Prediction and Lineups
1 hari lalu
The clash between France and Iraq will take place in the second match of Group I in the 2026 World Cup. This match becomes a bet between the two teams.
World Cup Preview: Argentina Face Austria's High-Pressing Challenge
1 hari lalu
Both teams enter the match on the back of opening wins and will be seeking another three points to strengthen their knockout-stage chances.
World Cup Roundup: Egypt Beat New Zealand 3-1, Cape Verde Hold Uruguay 2-2 in Group H Drama
1 hari lalu
World Cup match recap: Egypt staged a second-half comeback to defeat New Zealand 3-1, while Cape Verde held Uruguay to a 2-2 draw.
Spain's Lamine Yamal Among Youngest World Cup Goalscorers
1 hari lalu
Lamine Yamal has once again made his mark in World Cup history after entering the list of the 10 youngest goalscorers in the tournament's history.
