Portugal vs Uzbekistan prediction.Portugal need a win after their 1-1 draw with Congo when they face Uzbekistan at NRG Stadium, Houston on Tuesday, 24 June 2026 (19:00 SAST (Tuesday, 24 June 2026)). Colombia lead Group K with three points after beating Uzbekistan 3-1. Ronaldo leads in what may be his final World Cup. Our prediction: Portugal to win. Full analysis, team news, H2H and all markets on SportPesa.
Match details
| Field | Detail |
| Competition | 2026 FIFA World Cup — Group K, Match Day 2 |
| Date & kick-off | Tuesday, 24 June 2026 at 19:00 SAST (Tuesday, 24 June 2026) |
| Venue | NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas, USA |
| Group K standings | After Match Day 1: Colombia 3pts, Congo 1pt, Portugal 1pt, Uzbekistan 0pts |
| Stakes | Portugal must win to stay in qualification contention. Uzbekistan defeat = elimination all but confirmed. |
| Where to watch | DSTV/GOTV |
Portugal’s urgency vs Uzbekistan’s historic World Cup moment
Portugal’s 1-1 draw with Congo on Match Day 1 was a frustrating result that left Roberto Martínez’s side third in Group K. João Neves scored inside six minutes to give Portugal the lead, but Yoane Wissa’s equaliser — the Brentford forward who proved so dangerous in our earlier Portugal vs Congo preview — cancelled it out. Despite the draw, Portugal come into this match on a seven-game unbeaten run and with their quality largely unquestioned.
The focal point of Portugal’s campaign remains Cristiano Ronaldo. At 41, this is almost certainly his final World Cup. He will lead the line as always, supported by Pedro Neto and Bernardo Silva from wide areas, with Bruno Fernándes as the number 10. Rafael Leão, who made a positive impact from the bench against Congo, may be in contention for a start here. No injury concerns.
Uzbekistan are making their first ever World Cup appearance and have already made history: Abbosbek Fayzullaev’s goal against Colombia was the first ever scored by an Uzbekistani player at a World Cup finals. Despite the 3-1 defeat, that moment carries enormous significance for the country and the squad. Coach Fabio Cannavaro will retain faith in his core starters with the compact 3-4-2-1 system that gave Colombia some defensive problems in the opener.
Eldor Shomurodov leads the line. Fayzullaev and Oston Urunov retain their advanced midfield roles. Uzbekistan come in on a three-game losing streak and have conceded seven goals across that run, but their historic maiden appearance gives the squad motivation beyond points alone.
Team news and expected line-ups
Portugal: No injuries. Ronaldo leads. Neves and Vitinha retained in midfield. Leão bench or start — confirm before kick-off.
Uzbekistan: Unchanged XI expected. Shomurodov up front. Fayzullaev and Urunov in advanced midfield. Compact 3-4-2-1 system retained.
Predicted XIs below are based on the KE source article. Update once confirmed XIs released before kick-off.
| Portugal (4-3-3) | Uzbekistan (3-4-2-1) |
| D. Costa (GK) | Yusupov (GK) |
| Cancelo (RB) | Khusanov (CB) |
| T. Araujo (CB) | Abdullaev (CB) |
| Veiga (CB) | Ashurmatov (CB) |
| Mendes (LB) | Sayfiev (RM) |
| Vitinha (DM) | Shukurov (CM) |
| J. Neves (CM) | Mozgovoy (CM) |
| B. Fernandes (AM) | Nazrullaev (LM) |
| B. Silva (RW) | Fayzullaev (RAM) |
| P. Neto (LW) | Urunov (LAM) |
| Ronaldo (ST) | Shomurodov (ST) |
Key stats
- Portugal: drew 1-1 with Congo in their Group K opener. João Neves scored in the 6th minute; Yoane Wissa equalised.
- Portugal: 7-game unbeaten run. Ranked 5th in the world by FIFA. Won 3 consecutive games before the Congo draw.
- Cristiano Ronaldo: 41 years old. Almost certainly his final World Cup.
- Pedro Neto, Bernardo Silva: expected wide starters. Rafael Leão pushed for start from bench.
- Uzbekistan: first ever World Cup appearance. Lost 3-1 to Colombia in their opener.
- Abbosbek Fayzullaev: scored Uzbekistan’s first ever World Cup goal vs Colombia.
- Uzbekistan: on a 3-game losing streak. Conceded 7 goals in that run.
- Uzbekistan form (last 5): LLLDW.
- Fabio Cannavaro: Uzbekistan’s coach. Former Italy World Cup winner.
- H2H: first ever meeting between Portugal and Uzbekistan in any fixture.
- Group K standings (after Match Day 1): Colombia 3pts, Congo 1pt, Portugal 1pt, Uzbekistan 0pts.
Head-to-head
Portugal and Uzbekistan have never previously met in any fixture — competitive or friendly. This World Cup Group K match is the first ever encounter between the two nations.
Current form
| Team | Last 5 (inc. WC opener) |
| Portugal | D W W W D — 7-game unbeaten run |
| Uzbekistan | L L L D W — 3-game losing streak into the tournament |
Our prediction
Portugal are the clear favourites. Their squad quality, seven-game unbeaten run, and the urgency of needing three points after the Congo draw all point towards a dominant performance. Ronaldo’s motivation in what is likely his final World Cup, and the creative quality of Fernándes, Neto, and Silva in behind him, give them the tools to break down Uzbekistan’s compact defensive block.
Uzbekistan’s three-game losing streak and seven goals conceded reflects a team that — despite their historical achievement in reaching the tournament — are still some way below the level of Europe’s top nations. Their counter-attacking threat through Shomurodov and Fayzullaev should not be entirely dismissed, but Portugal should have the quality to control this match and take the three points they need.
Our prediction: Portugal to win.
Odds and markets
Odds correct at 1900Hrs UTC on 23/06/2026.
How to bet on SportPesa
- Open the Portugal vs Uzbekistan event page on SportPesa (link above).
- Choose your market — Single Bet (SB), Multi-Bet (MB), or Live Bet (LB) once the match starts.
- Enter your stake and place your bet.
Frequently asked questions
What time does Portugal vs Uzbekistan kick off?
Kick-off is at 19:00 SAST (Tuesday, 24 June 2026) on Tuesday, 24 June 2026, at NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas, USA.
What happened in Portugal’s first match at World Cup 2026?
Portugal drew 1-1 with Congo in their Group K opener on 17 June 2026. João Neves scored for Portugal in the sixth minute but Yoane Wissa equalised for Congo, leaving the group favourites with just one point from their opening match.
What happened in Uzbekistan’s first match at World Cup 2026?
Uzbekistan lost 3-1 to Colombia in their Group K opener. Despite the defeat, Abbosbek Fayzullaev scored the first ever goal by an Uzbekistani player at a FIFA World Cup finals, marking a historic moment for the country.
Have Portugal and Uzbekistan ever played before?
No. This World Cup Group K match is the first ever fixture between Portugal and Uzbekistan in any competition.
What group are Portugal and Uzbekistan in at World Cup 2026?
Both sides are in Group K alongside Colombia and Congo. After Match Day 1, Colombia lead with three points, while Congo and Portugal are on one point each and Uzbekistan are yet to score a point.
Is this Cristiano Ronaldo’s last World Cup?
Ronaldo is 41 years old at the time of the 2026 World Cup. He has not officially confirmed whether this will be his last tournament, but given his age it is widely expected to be his final World Cup appearance. He leads Portugal’s attack for every match.
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