World Cup: Portugal Will Show No Mercy to New Boys Uzbekistan

Portugal vs Uzbekistan

Portugal are looking for their first World Cup 2026 win when they meet Uzbekistan on Tuesday at the NRG Stadium in Houston.

Roberto Martinez’ men struggled to a 1-1 opening round draw with DR Congo while Uzbekistan lost 3-1 to a strong Colombia side. While the Selecao’s result was a clear disappointment, the White Wolves did themselves credit against a team boasting the likes of Luis Diaz and Daniel Munoz.

Portugal should really have too much for Uzbekistan, here at their first World Cup finals but manager Martinez has a big decision to make before Tuesday.

 

Talking Points

Is it time for CR7 to take a rest?

The World Cup 2026 betting odds rate the European Selecao as fifth favourites to lift the title, sandwiched between the South American heavyweights of Argentina and Brazil. But while the likes of the Netherlands have been making statement wins, hammering Sweden 5-1, and highly fancied England are on track after they beat Croatia, Portugal stumbled in their opener. After João Neves had given the Selecao an early lead, it all seemed to be plain sailing until Newcastle United star Yoanne Wissa levelled to give DR Congo a point in their first appearance at the finals since 1974 when they appeared as Zaire.

Portugal were toothless for much of the game and the great Cristiano Ronaldo struggled to make any impact, missing two very good chances and extending his run without a goal in major tournaments to ten international games. It’s a sorry state of affairs for a player who has scored 143 goals in 229 appearances for his country but, at 41 years of age, is it time for the Al Nassr star to take a rest?

CR7 is a Portuguese legend but it’s all about World Cup 2026 results, and a 1-1 draw with DR Congo was a shocker. And Paris Saint-Germain’s 25-year-old striker Goncalo Ramos, who started against DR Congo on the bench, is waiting in the wings. Ramos announced himself on the international stage in Qatar when he replaced Ronaldo and scored a hat-trick against Switzerland and, with ten goals in 26 games for Portugal, not all of them as starts, I’d say Ramos is ready.

If Martinez does drop Ronaldo to the bench, he has a ready-made captain in Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes…but it’s a big call to make.

 

Cannavaro brings star quality to Uzbekistan

For all that the White Wolves are an unknown quality in international football, sitting 54^th in the FIFA World Rankings, they have a very famous manager, Fabio Cannavaro, who was appointed in October 2025 to guide Uzbekistan to the finals. The World Cup winning Azzurri centre back with well over 100 Italy caps is in the Juventus Hall of Fame and he won two La Liga titles with Real Madrid.

Qualifying for the World Cup finals was a huge moment for the White Wolves who have had seven failed attempts, since earning independence three and a half decades ago. They have come agonisingly close more than once and now, under Cannavaro, the Uzbeks have finally reached the promised land. So, despite losing their opener to Los Cafeteros the White Wolves will savour every moment.

The team isn’t blessed with many household names but Uzbekistan are captained by AS Roma attacking midfielder Eldor Shomurodov, who has been on loan at Süper Lig club İstanbul Başakşehir this year, scoring 22 goals in 34 league games, and he has been a reliable hitman for his nation, scoring 44 in 93 games for Uzbekistan during an 11-year international career.

Now 30 years of age, Shomurodov still has plenty to offer and he is a superb mentor for the exciting 22-year-old midfielder Abbosek Fayzullaev who also plays at Basaksehir and has scored nine goals in 33 internationals.

 

History

With Uzbekistan at their first ever World Cup finals, it is a given that these two teams have never met in competition, while Portugal are at their ninth finals but are yet to better their semi-final place from way back in 1966.

In terms of recent form Portugal have won three and drawn two of their five games in this calendar year, while the Uzbeks have won one, drawn one and lost three in 2026.

 

Betting Tip

Portugal are hugely odds on at a SBOTOP price of 1.22 to win this clash with Uzbekistan at 11.50 and the draw is at 6.20…and I’m backing the Selecao to do the business on Tuesday.  

   

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