Portugal - Uzbekistan: score, highlights and statistics

Portugal face Uzbekistan on June 23, 2026, in a second-round Group K clash at the FIFA World Cup - a historic first meeting between the two sides, with Uzbekistan making their debut at football's grandest stage.

Match Info: Portugal vs Uzbekistan

The match kicks off on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at 18:00 BST (17:00 UTC) at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, as part of Matchday 2 of Group K at the 2026 FIFA World Cup hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Where to Watch Portugal vs Uzbekistan?

In the United States, where the match is being played, the game is broadcast nationally on FOX and Telemundo. Online, viewers can stream it on Foxsports.com, Fubo TV, Peacock, and Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, with a radio option available on Futbol de Primera Radio.

Fans in Australia can watch via SBS On Demand, while New Zealand viewers have access through TVNZ+. In Canada, the match is available on TSN+, and in France on 6play and beIN SPORTS CONNECT F.R. Italy's coverage is provided by DAZN Italia, and Spanish fans can tune in on DAZN España.

Additional broadcast options include Sport TV Multiscreen in Portugal, CazéTV in Brazil, VIX in Mexico, and DIRECTV GO alongside DIRECTV Sports Argentina for viewers in Argentina - making the match accessible across 14 countries via online and terrestrial platforms.

Portugal vs Uzbekistan - Match Preview

Portugal are one of the tournament's established powers, entering this match with a chance to secure their passage to the round of 32, while Uzbekistan - the first Central Asian nation in World Cup history - arrive knowing a result here would be a landmark moment for their football.

Group K carries one of the most compelling storylines of the entire tournament. Cristiano Ronaldo, at 41 years old, is appearing at his record-setting sixth World Cup - a milestone he shares only with Lionel Messi - and the question of whether Portugal will finally convert their quality into a deep run haunts every match they play. Roberto Martinez has built a squad loaded with elite talent: Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Vitinha, Joao Neves, and Ruben Dias form the backbone of a team that looks balanced across every position.

Uzbekistan's arrival at this tournament is a story in itself. They qualified as AFC third-round Group A runners-up, sealed with a 0-0 draw in the UAE on June 5, 2025, becoming the first Central Asian nation and the third former Soviet republic - after Russia and Ukraine - to reach a World Cup finals. Coach Fabio Cannavaro, the Italian 2006 World Cup-winning captain and Ballon d'Or winner, leads a squad where Manchester City defender Abdukodir Khusanov is the biggest name and Eldor Shomurodov wears the captain's armband. The group travels to Houston with history already made - every match from here is a bonus.

Head-to-Head: Portugal vs Uzbekistan

Portugal and Uzbekistan have never met before - not in a competitive fixture, not in a friendly. The June 23, 2026 encounter in Houston is the first time in history these two nations have faced each other on a football pitch, as confirmed by FIFA's own records for Group K.

The only direct encounter between these sides on record:

• June 23, 2026 - FIFA World Cup 2026, Group K - Portugal vs Uzbekistan (NRG Stadium, Houston)

Portugal - Recent Form

Portugal arrive at this match having won 2 and drawn 2 of their last 5 internationals, with 1 defeat and a goals record of 13 scored against 5 conceded - figures that reflect both their attacking menace and occasional defensive fragility.

The headline result in this sequence was a stunning 9-1 demolition of Armenia in Lisbon in November 2025, during UEFA World Cup qualification. That evening underlined just how devastating Portugal can be at their best. The same November window, however, produced a 0-2 defeat in Dublin against the Republic of Ireland - a reminder that Roberto Martinez's side can be exposed when they are not at their sharpest. The March 2026 window told a more complete story: a composed 2-0 win over the United States in Atlanta was followed by a disciplined goalless draw away at Mexico's Azteca, 2 results that highlighted the squad's ability to perform under pressure in hostile environments before the tournament began.

Uzbekistan - Recent Form

Uzbekistan enter the World Cup with a form record of 2 wins, 2 draws and 1 defeat across their last 5 matches, having scored 9 goals and conceded 7 - a return that demonstrates attacking intent but also a vulnerability at the back that tougher opponents will look to exploit.

In March 2026, the White Wolves defeated Gabon 3-1 in a confident display, though they could not break down Venezuela a week earlier and settled for a 0-0 draw. In January 2026, the team showed their goal-scoring capacity with a 4-2 win and a 2-2 draw against China. The final pre-tournament test, however, produced a 2-0 defeat to Canada on June 2, 2026 - a result that raised questions about their readiness for the pace and physicality of the world's elite. Cannavaro's squad arrives historically modest in expectation and maximum in ambition.

Facts and Statistics

4 key facts about Portugal vs Uzbekistan at the 2026 FIFA World Cup:

• This is the first-ever meeting between Portugal and Uzbekistan in any competition - no prior competitive or friendly encounter exists between the two nations.
• Cristiano Ronaldo is appearing at his 6th FIFA World Cup, matching only Lionel Messi's record - Ronaldo has played 226 internationals and scored 143 goals, the most in men's international football history.
• Uzbekistan are the first Central Asian nation ever to qualify for a FIFA World Cup finals, and the third former Soviet republic to do so after Russia and Ukraine.
• Uzbekistan's head coach Fabio Cannavaro was the winning captain at the 2006 FIFA World Cup with Italy and the Ballon d'Or winner that same year.