The first matchday of the 2026 FIFA World Cup has drawn to a close across the expanded 48-team group stage, and the opening round of fixtures has already served up its share of drama - from commanding victories to a shock stalemate that left one of football's most decorated players staring at the turf in Houston. With all 48 nations now having played once, the standings are beginning to take shape and the stakes heading into matchday two could not be higher.
The tournament, co-hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico, has already demonstrated that the bloated but ambitious new format rewards no one's complacency. Even the casual observer tracking scores across time zones - far removed from the niche world of judi mpl and other competitive entertainment circuits - could not have missed the talking point that dominated Thursday's footballing discourse: Cristiano Ronaldo, 41 years old and playing in a record-equalling sixth World Cup, left the pitch in Texas without a goal, without a win, and with questions beginning to mount.
Portugal, reigning UEFA Nations League champions and among the pre-tournament favourites, were held to a 1-1 draw by the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Group K. João Neves, the PSG midfielder who has become central to Roberto Martínez's system, gave the Seleção das Quinas an early lead with a precise header into the top right corner in the sixth minute. But Portugal, sluggish in Houston's oppressive heat and humidity, failed to build on that platform. Congo equalised through a virtually identical headed goal from a cross in first-half stoppage time, and the second 45 minutes produced chances but no breakthrough. Ronaldo, visibly frustrated after efforts in the 68th and 73rd minutes drifted wide, did not address the media post-match - instead posting a measured response on X: "It wasn't the start we wanted, but this is far from over. Head up and focus on the next game."
Ronaldo's Blank Throws Portugal's Momentum Into Question
The context around Ronaldo's goalless opener is worth sitting with. Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick in Argentina's opening fixture. Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, Vinícius Júnior, Viktor Gyökeres and Harry Kane all found the net on matchday one. Ronaldo, the man who has scored in every major tournament he has graced for two decades, could not. Coach Martínez was asked pointedly whether he considered substituting his captain. "It makes no sense to get the best world scorer to be out when you need goals," Martínez replied. "The experience of Cristiano in the box is important. The way that he attracts defenders is important." It was a carefully chosen defence of a player whose influence on this Portuguese generation remains enormous, even if Wednesday offered a rare glimpse of his limitations.
England Dismantle Croatia in Tournament's Most Compelling Fixture
If Portugal's draw was the headline disappointment, England versus Croatia was the headline spectacle. The two sides, with a history of major tournament collisions stretching back to the 2018 World Cup semi-finals, produced a breathless six-goal encounter that England ultimately won 4-2. Kane, who leads the Bundesliga's scoring charts this season with 36 goals for Bayern Munich, missed his initial penalty in the tenth minute before a retake was ordered for goalkeeper encroachment - and he made no mistake the second time, driving low into the bottom right corner. Baturina equalised for Croatia before Kane headed England back in front from a corner. Croatia drew level again in first-half stoppage time through Petar Musa, setting up a second half that Jude Bellingham effectively settled within two minutes of the restart. Rashford added a late fourth to confirm a statement win for a side that has twice finished as European Championship runners-up and is chasing a first World Cup title since 1966.
Austria Advance Smoothly; Ghana Steal It Late; Colombia Hit Three
Austria were the quiet winners of the evening's remaining fixtures, beating Jordan 3-1 in Group J. Romano Schmidt opened the scoring with a curling finish, Jordan's Ali Olwan pulled one back early in the second half, but an own-goal deflection in the 76th minute and a late Marko Arnautovic penalty - converted in the 102nd minute - gave Austria comfortable passage into matchday two with maximum points.
In Group L, Ghana demonstrated the kind of resilience African football has long made its hallmark. Panama dominated the statistical metrics - possession, passing accuracy, shots on target - but were unable to convert. Ghana, resolute and patient, conjured a 95th-minute winner to claim three points against the run of play, matching England at the top of the group. It was the sort of result that has become part of African football's World Cup identity: compact, disciplined and lethal when the moment arrives.
Colombia, led by Bayern Munich winger Luis Díaz, rounded off the night's action with a 3-1 win over Uzbekistan in Group K. Daniel Muñoz gave Colombia the lead before the break; Abbosbek Fayzullaev equalised for the Central Asian side in the 60th minute in a moment that briefly threatened an upset. Díaz restored the advantage five minutes later, and a third goal deep in stoppage time put the result beyond doubt. Colombia sit top of Group K with three points, while Portugal - Díaz's group rivals - will need a significant improvement in their next outing to avoid an early exit from familiar territory at the bottom of the standings.
