Portugal and England Kick Off Their World Cup Campaigns on Day 7

As the inaugural round of the 2026 World Cup comes to a close on Wednesday, two of the tournament's favorites, Portugal and England, are set to begin their journeys, marking a significant moment in the tournament nearly a week after its start. Fans can look forward to four exciting matches today.

Portugal will face the Democratic Republic of Congo at 1 p.m. ET in Houston. The Portuguese team, ranked as one of the top contenders, is co-No. 3 alongside England, trailing only France and Spain with odds of +700. With a formidable midfield featuring talents like Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Vitinha, and João Neves, Portugal boasts a solid defensive lineup as well. However, questions loom over Cristiano Ronaldo's ability to lead the attack at the age of 41, even after an impressive season with Al-Nassr, where he scored 28 goals in 30 appearances.

On the other hand, DR Congo is making its return to the World Cup for the first time since 1974, when they competed as Zaire. Historically, their last outing ended in a heavy defeat, but this squad has shown its potential by defeating both Cameroon and Nigeria during African qualifying. They also secured their place in the tournament by overcoming Jamaica in extra time. Players like Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Noah Sadiki will be key to their performance.

England will take on Croatia at 4 p.m. ET in Dallas, a rematch of their 2018 semifinal clash. Croatia, featuring seasoned players such as 40-year-old Luka Modric and 37-year-old Ivan Perisic, looks to replicate its past success after finishing third in the last World Cup. England, under coach Thomas Tuchel, is seen as a strong contender but faces the pressure of a nation eager for its first World Cup victory since 1966. The squad recently adjusted its lineup due to an injury to Tino Livramento, with Trevoh Chalabah stepping in.

At 7 p.m. ET, Ghana will compete against Panama in Toronto. Ghana has struggled to progress past the group stages since their memorable quarterfinal run in 2010 and aims to break that trend this year, albeit without center back Thomas Partey, who faces legal issues. Panama, participating in its second World Cup, hopes to avoid the heavy defeats experienced in its previous appearance.

Finally, Uzbekistan will take on Colombia at 10 p.m. ET in Mexico City. Colombia, led by the veteran James Rodriguez, seeks to reclaim its World Cup glory after failing to qualify in 2022. Uzbekistan, making its tournament debut, is coached by former Italian captain Fabio Cannavaro and has shown promise in qualifying, finishing second in their group. The match will be a significant moment for both teams as they aim to make their mark in the tournament.