Portugal seeks World Cup win vs. Uzbekistan after opening draw, Ronaldo criticism

Portugal faces Uzbekistan in their second Group K match of the 2026 World Cup, aiming for a crucial win after a disappointing 1-1 draw with the Democratic Republic of Congo. The team, led by Roberto Martinez, struggled to maintain their lead in the opening game, drawing criticism particularly towards captain Cristiano Ronaldo. The 41-year-old forward played the full match but failed to register a single shot on target, continuing a streak of no World Cup goals since 2022.

Martinez is under pressure to guide Portugal, considered a tournament favorite, back to winning ways. The team's performance against DR Congo fell short of expectations, highlighting a need for improvement. Uzbekistan, making their World Cup debut, also seeks a positive result after a 3-1 loss to Colombia. Despite scoring their historic first World Cup goal through Abbosbek Fayzullaev, they couldn't hold off the Colombian offense.

Portugal may see the return of defender Ruben Dias, who missed the first game due to a minor injury. However, Martinez might opt to keep him sidelined to avoid risks, given the team's squad depth. Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to remain in the starting lineup despite recent criticism. The match is scheduled for Wednesday at Houston Stadium.