Rúben Dias a doubt as Portugal open against DR Congo

It all starts Wednesday

Portugal open their 2026 World Cup against DR Congo on Wednesday, and you go in as favorites (1) (4). The squad is based in the United States. A storm in Palm Beach already wiped out one training session, but the match venue is covered and the forecast is not a concern.

Rúben Dias training alone, doubt for the opener

Rúben Dias continues to train separately from the group on the eve of the debut (2). That is the image that will worry you most right now. No definitive word yet on whether your best defender will be ready for Wednesday. The Qatar-based referee Abdulrahman Al Jassim, who sent off a young Dias at the 2017 U-20 World Cup, has been appointed for this match, an odd footnote that will not matter if he plays.

Leão's turbulent road to his first World Cup

Rafael Leão arrives at his first World Cup carrying a season he describes as one that tested him "physically and psychologically to the maximum" (3). A red card for punching an opponent and ongoing uncertainty around his club future at Milan have framed the buildup. Cristiano Ronaldo, Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, and João Cancelo are all in the squad. Vitinha has spoken about the unique quality of this group and his eagerness to renew his PSG partnership with João Neves. Every player will wear a bracelet engraved with Diogo Jota's name, gifted by the Prime Minister, a tribute to the forward who passed away in 2025.

Fan reactions

The mood online is a mix of cautious optimism and real anxiety over Rúben Dias. Most fans see DR Congo as a match Portugal should handle, but the image of Dias training alone has rattled confidence. The Leão profile is being shared widely, some fans want him to channel the chaos into something unstoppable on the pitch. Read more on r/PrimeiraLiga