Portugal vs Uzbekistan Preview: Team News & Prediction | FIFA World Cup 2026 | Group Stage
Portugal tripped up in their opener and are now under a bit of pressure as they face FIFA World Cup debutants Uzbekistan in their second game in Group K in Houston.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – ITV / USA – FOX Sports
How to watch online: UK – ITVX / USA – FOX One
Portugal preview: Blunt start
In their opening game of FIFA World Cup 2026, Portugal began with an underwhelming 1-1 draw against Congo DR. Having had 75% possession and gone ahead via Joao Neves early on, Newcastle United striker Yoane Wissa brought Congo DR back level just before half-time, eventually having just one shot and one shot on target fewer than the Portuguese side that dominated the ball.
Portugal have some brilliant players and perhaps boast the most impressive midfield at the tournament. However, their stumble isn't a major shock if you look a bit further back across their results since winning the UEFA Nations League last summer. Since then, Roberto Martinez' side have only beaten Armenia and co-hosts USA by more than one goal - a run of 11 matches.
Uzbekistan preview: Enterprising but beaten
2006 Ballon d'Or winner and FIFA World Cup winner Fabio Cannavaro was left encouraged by Uzbekistan's debut performance at a FIFA World Cup against Colombia the other day but the gulf in terms of quality between the two sides did eventually show, despite the Uzbeks playing some surprisingly enterprising football, having been expected to be stodgy and dour.
Uzbekistan went behind in the first half via Crystal Palace full-back Daniel Munoz before Abbosbek Fayzullaev brought Uzbekistan level in the second half. Luis Diaz re-established Colombia's lead before Jaminton Campaz made it 3-1 late on, although Uzbekistan did have their chance late on themselves to show that they aren't going to be outright walkovers.
Portugal team news: CR7 debate
Further team news will appear here closer to the match after pre-match press conferences...
At FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar, Fernando Santos dropped Cristiano Ronaldo for Portugal's round of 16 hammering of Switzerland, where they won 6-1. He came on for the bulk of the second half in their defeat to Morocco.
At UEFA EURO 2024, the legendary forward failed to score and failed to make any real impact as Portugal lost to Georgia in the group stages, laboured past Slovenia in the round of 16 on penalties and then remained blunt in a goalless draw that was followed by a loss on penalties against France in the quarter-finals. They won the UEFA Nations League last summer with Ronaldo replaced before extra-time in the final.
He has now failed to score in ten major tournament matches and, frankly, any other striker would not have survived that run - especially when it appears to have a clear impact on the way in which the team plays. Martinez is under pressure but has been loyal to Ronaldo and, against Uzbekistan, it would again be a surprise to see him change it up, with Bernardo Silva replaced at half-time against Congo DR and the likeliest to miss out on the eleven.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Costa; Cancelo, Araujo, Veiga, Mendes; Vitinha, Neves; Neto, Fernandes, Conceicao; Ronaldo
Unavailable:
Questionable: Dias (Fitness)
Uzbekistan team news: No need to change
Further team news will appear here closer to the match after pre-match press conferences...
There doesn't appear to be any injuries for Cannavaro to deal with at the time of writing and so they will be expected to name an unchanged eleven for this one in Texas.
Abdukodir Khusanov and Eldor Shomurodov are the stars of the show and they played well against Colombia with Abbosbek Fayzullaev, another player playing in Europe at Istanbul Basaksehir, also playing his part.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Yusupov; Ashurmatov, Khusanov, Abdullaev; Karimov, Mozgovoy, Shukurov, Nasrullaev; Fayzullaev, Urunov; Shomurodov
Unavailable:
Questionable:
Portugal’s top FIFA World Cup Fantasy assets
Nuno Mendes ($5.8m) – Defender
Bruno Fernandes ($8.5m) – Midfielder
Cristiano Ronaldo ($10.0m) – Forward
Matchday 2 captain pick: Bruno Fernandes
Set-piece duty
Penalties: Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes
Free kicks: Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes
Corners: Bruno Fernandes, Nuno Mendes
Uzbekistan’s top FIFA World Cup Fantasy assets
Abdukodir Khusanov ($4.3m) – Defender
Sherzod Nasrullaev ($3.7m) – Defender
Eldor Shomurodov ($6.5m) – Forward
Matchday 2 captain pick: Eldor Shomurodov
Set-piece duty
Penalties: Eldor Shomurodov
Free kicks: Jaloliddin Masharipov, Abbosbek Fayzullaev
Corners: Jaloliddin Masharipov, Abbosbek Fayzullaev
Key stats
- This is the first meeting between Portugal and Uzbekistan.
- Portugal have scored in 11 of their last 12 World Cup matches.
- Portugal have won their second fixture in five of their last six FIFA World Cup campaigns (D1).
- Cristiano Ronaldo is poised to move into joint‑third on the all‑time list of FIFA World Cup appearance‑makers, drawing level with Miroslav Klose on 24 matches. Only Lothar Matthäus and Lionel Messi have made more.
- World Cup debutants Uzbekistan are aiming for their first positive result following their 1-3 defeat to Colombia in their first match.
- In their opening fixture, Uzbekistan’s Behruzjon Karimov (18y 314d) became the third-youngest player from an AFC nation to line up at the FIFA World Cup, after Australia’s Garang Kuol (18 years and 68 days) and Japan’s Shinji Ono (18 years and 272 days).
- Portugal trio Matheus Nunes, Bernardo Silva and Rúben Neves play alongside Uzbekistan’s Abdukodir Khusanov at Manchester City.
Click here for EVEN MORE stats & facts about this fixture!
Portugal vs Uzbekistan prediction
If Roberto Martinez, as he refused to do at UEFA EURO 2024 when things clearly weren't working with the side that he had, continues to stick with what he went with against Congo DR, definitely in terms of style and, frankly, in terms of personnel, the Portuguese will again struggle here.
Abdukodir Khusanov marshals a rigid and committed back three for the Uzbekistanis and they will expect to remain organised against a team that will play in front of them, rather than test them in behind.
The sheer quality of Portugal should mean they eventually come out on top and expose Uzbekistan, as happened against the Colombians for the Uzbeks, but it is unlikely to be an annihilation for the Portuguese, especially given that year-long run of struggling to run up scores.
Portugal vs Uzbekistan betting tip: Portugal to win & under 3.5 goals
