Portugal came into the FIFA World Cup 2026 carrying the weight of being one of the most hyped squads in the tournament. A Nations League title last year, wins over Germany and Spain, a squad loaded with some of the best midfielders on the planet, this was supposed to be a team that finally delivered on the promise.
Instead, they stuttered to a 1-1 draw against DR Congo in their FIFA World Cup opener, handed critics all the ammunition they needed, and now find themselves in a situation where a win against Uzbekistan isn’t just ideal, it’s basically required.
Because if Portugal drop points again in Group K of FIFA World Cup 2026, the conversations about whether they can even get out of the group stage won’t just be noise online, they’ll be very real. Uzbekistan are no walkover despite how they’re being talked about, but they’re also not the kind of opposition Portugal should be sweating. Which is exactly the problem, because that draw against DR Congo in the FIFA World Cup showed that this Portugal side sweats plenty when it shouldn’t have to.
FIFA World Cup 2026: The Ronaldo circus doesn't tell the full story
Let’s address the obvious one first. The entire football internet spent the last couple of days arguing about whether Cristiano Ronaldo should start, whether João Neves‘ “just another player” comment blew up the dressing room, and whether this Portugal FIFA World Cup 2026 squad has a fundamental problem with its 40-year-old captain. Most of that is noise.
Training footage doesn’t show anyone isolated or storming off, Ronaldo, Neves, and Bruno Fernandes all look fine with each other, and what looked like a civil war online was really one quote going viral and doing what viral quotes do. Roberto Martinez doubled down in the press conference, confirmed Ronaldo starts, and that’s that.
The more honest question isn’t whether Ronaldo is good or bad, it’s whether the team is being built around him in a way that makes sense. Critics who want him dropped argue that he can’t run in behind defenders, can’t press, and that a high line nullifies him completely. That’s partially true. But the equally valid point that often gets buried is that Portugal’s other players aren’t exactly covering themselves in glory either.
The DR Congo FIFA World Cup draw wasn’t Ronaldo’s fault alone. The team had 70-75% possession in the first half and the output was essentially nothing. That’s a system problem, not a Ronaldo problem.
He gets blamed because he’s the biggest name, because that’s how football works, the biggest star absorbs the criticism when things go wrong, and the other players quietly stay in his shadow. But when Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, and João Neves are all misfiring simultaneously in a way they never do for their clubs, the issue is somewhere above the players.
FIFA World Cup 2026: Bruno Fernandes and the mystery of the vanishing playmaker
If there’s one thing that’s genuinely baffling about Portugal at this FIFA World Cup, it’s what’s happening to Bruno Fernandes. At Manchester United, this is a player who single-handedly keeps the engine running, creating the most chances in match after match, picking passes that break defensive lines, operating dominantly in the right half-space and making vertical runs that give his team genuine threat.
FIFA World Cup match Against DR Congo, his heat map looked like someone had removed all the forward passes from his game. Lateral, backward, shuffling, the kind of football that looks busy but goes nowhere.
This isn’t a Bruno problem. Show his heat map from the Brighton game, the Nottingham Forest game, the Liverpool game, the man is everywhere, threading angles, getting into the box, putting crosses in for forwards to attack. For Portugal, he’s being squeezed into a role where he has to compensate for someone else’s positioning, which means he can’t naturally drift right and work from the half-space the way he does at club level.
Bernardo Silva starting in a similar zone compounds the problem, two players doing similar things in overlapping areas, neither able to fully express themselves. The coaching staff have to figure this out before it’s too late, because Bruno Fernandes operating at half capacity is a massive waste of arguably Portugal’s best player right now in FIFA World Cup.
FIFA World Cup 2026: What Uzbekistan actually brings to the table
Nobody is going to pretend Uzbekistan are favourites here in FIFA World Cup, but it’s worth being clear about what they are: a competent, organised, physical side that gave Colombia a tougher game than the 3-1 scoreline suggested.
Their coach Fabio Cannavaro admitted the team were nervous in the first half of their opener, just one shot in 45 minutes, anxious football from a side making their World Cup debut. But the second half told a different story. Seven shots, a well-taken goal, and a performance that showed Uzbekistan can actually play when they settle.
Fozlev and Uronov in midfield give them grit and physicality. They pressed Colombia hard enough to disrupt their rhythm in patches, and their willingness to play with aggression means Portugal can’t just assume this will be comfortable.
The tactical concern for Portugal is real: Uzbekistan will almost certainly park a deep defensive block and sit back, making it difficult for Portugal to find space in the final third. And here’s the thing, struggling against deep blocks is not unique to Portugal, every team struggles against it, that’s why the expression “park the bus” exists. But for a squad of Portugal’s quality, it should still be a manageable problem.
The Uzbekistan center-backs are physical but lack the sharpness that elite defenders carry. If Portugal moves the ball quickly, plays with tempo instead of the lethargic, sideways possession they showed against DR Congo, there will be spaces. The issue is whether Martinez organizes them to actually exploit those spaces rather than just maintain 70% possession for 90 minutes and wonder where the goals went.
FIFA World Cup 2026: What needs to change tactically
The lineup conversation heading into this game is about one central question: does Bernardo Silva start, and if so, where? The problem with having Bernardo and Bruno in the same midfield-to-attack band is that they want to operate in similar positions.
One option is to drop Bernardo and play Chico Conceição on the right, he’s shown he can create isolation and get into one-on-one situations, which is exactly what Portugal needs when facing a defensive block. Vitinha sitting slightly deeper, Bruno pushed higher with more freedom to drive forward, and Rúben Neves providing the base, that’s a structure that at least gives everyone a defined role and stops them getting in each other’s way.
Ronaldo’s role in this game specifically needs to be thought about clearly. Against Uzbekistan’s tall, physical center-backs, he probably won’t be winning many aerial duels, and he isn’t going to run in behind their defensive line 15 times. What he can do is make movement that pulls defenders, create space for Neto to run into, and get on the end of Bruno’s crossing from the right.
If Portugal can use Cancelo’s overlapping runs on one side, Conceição or Neto providing width on the other, and get the ball into the box consistently, Ronaldo in the six-yard area is still dangerous enough to punish a lapse. The question is execution, and whether this coaching staff can set it up properly.
FIFA World Cup 2026: Predicted XI
Uzbekistan predicted starting XI
Cannavaro went with a 3-4-2-1 shape against Colombia and there’s little reason to change it here. The back three of Khojimatov, Ashurov, and Alipov gives them the physicality they need, and that defensive solidity is their biggest asset against a Portugal attack that lacks cutting edge right now.
Yusupov and Masharipov are expected to operate as the two behind the striker, with Shomurodov leading the line, he’s the focal point of everything Uzbekistan do going forward and his hold-up play will be key in giving them any kind of foothold. Fozlev and Uronov in central midfield are the engine of this side, two players who bring grit, work rate, and enough quality on the ball to keep possession when Uzbekistan need to breathe. The wing-backs will have a huge defensive job tracking Cancelo and Nuno Mendes, so expect them to sit narrow and compact rather than push high.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Nematov; Khojimatov, Ashurov, Alipov; Hamrobekov, Fozlev, Uronov, Ergashev; Masharipov, Yusupov; Shomurodov.
Portugal’s predicted starting XI
Martinez is expected to stick largely with what he has but with at least one or two changes forced by the DR Congo performance. The back four of Cancelo, Rúben Dias, Diogo Dalot or Gonçalo Inácio, and Nuno Mendes looks set to stay, with the Araujo-Diaz center-back partnership potentially the strongest option if Diaz is fit enough to start.
In midfield, Vitinha should retain his place alongside Rúben Neves as the base, with Bruno Fernandes pushed into a more advanced, freer role than he was allowed against DR Congo.
The big call is Bernardo Silva, there’s a genuine case for dropping him in favour of Chico Conceição on the right, who showed more directness and the ability to create isolation when he came off the bench in the opener. Neto keeps his place on the left given his energy and willingness to run in behind. Ronaldo leads the line, as Martinez confirmed in his press conference.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Costa; Cancelo, Dias, Inácio, Nuno Mendes; Rúben Neves, Vitinha; Conceição, Bruno Fernandes, Neto; Ronaldo.
Also READ: Top 10 truth bombs Cristiano Ronaldo dropped in the Piers Morgan interview
FIFA World Cup 2026: Who will win the contest?
Portugal wins this one, but don’t expect it to be pretty from the start. Uzbekistan will sit deep, make it uncomfortable for the first 30-40 minutes, and Portugal will probably look frustrated and ponderous in spells, much like they did against DR Congo.
The difference is that the quality gap here is slightly larger, and Portugal should eventually find the openings once Uzbekistan tire and the spaces appear.
Expect a goal either from a Bruno Fernandes delivery that Ronaldo meets in the box, or from a midfield runner getting in late. Uzbekistan will likely nick one, they’re not here to just defend, but Portugal have enough to see it out. Final score: Portugal 3-1 Uzbekistan, with the game opening up in the second half and Portugal getting the two or three goals they need to settle the nerves and move on.
Frequently Asked Questions
The FIFA World Cup 2026 is widely expected to be Ronaldo’s final major international tournament, although the Portugal captain has not officially announced his retirement from international football.
A victory would put Portugal in a strong position to reach the knockout rounds from Group K. After dropping points against DR Congo in their opening match, three points against Uzbekistan have become increasingly important.
Uzbekistan are considered underdogs, but they showed promise in their opening match against Colombia. Portugal remain favourites, though another poor performance could leave them vulnerable.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha and João Cancelo are expected to play crucial roles for Portugal. For Uzbekistan, Eldor Shomurodov, Jaloliddin Masharipov and the midfield duo of Fozlev and Uronov could be decisive.
Portugal are favourites to win the match due to their superior squad quality and experience. While Uzbekistan are expected to make life difficult with a compact defensive setup, a 3-1 victory for Portugal is a likely outcome.
Amar Pal Singh Bhalla is a sports writer covering cricket, football and tennis.
Based in India, he has followed the game for the last few years and writes
match analysis, previews and features for Beyond The Score
