Portugal vs. Uzbekistan at the 2026 World Cup: kickoff time, where to watch on TV, the stadium in Houston, and the probable lineups

In the second match of Group K, the Portuguese national team will seek its first victory at the 2026 World Cup against a fearless, first-time participant Uzbekistan, in a match that could set Portugal on the path to the knockout stage.

Media Manager

· June 23, 2026

Portugal enters the second matchday of Group K at the 2026 World Cup needing to bounce back from the result of its first game. Their opener against the DR Congo in Houston ended in a 1-1 draw—João Neves gave Portugal an early lead, but Yoane Wissa equalized just before halftime—leaving Roberto Martínez’s team with just one point, falling short of expectations for one of the title contenders.

On the other side will be Uzbekistan, making its World Cup debut and already with a story to tell: right off the bat, scoring its first goal against Colombia, courtesy of Abbosbek Fayzullaev. Fabio Cannavaro’s squad heads into the match with confidence.

As for the lineup, Uzbekistan is likely to remain without midfielder Jaloliddin Masharipov, who is sidelined with a back injury that already kept him out of the opener. Portugal, on the other hand, has no major absences, and Martínez may field the same starting lineup he used against the Congolese, with a few changes up front.

Date, time, and where to watch Portugal vs. Uzbekistan on TV

The match is scheduled for Tuesday, June 23, with kickoff at 6 p.m. in Portugal. On free-to-air TV, Portugal vs. Uzbekistan will be broadcast by TVI, under an agreement between Portuguese general-interest channels and FIFA. Those who prefer full coverage can watch on Sport TV, which holds the rights to all World Cup matches, or, as a free alternative, on LiveModeTV, which streams the national team’s matches on YouTube.

The stadium

The match will be played at NRG Stadium—renamed Houston Stadium for the tournament—in Houston, with a capacity of about 72,000 spectators. Equipped with a retractable roof and air conditioning, the venue promises to provide relief from the stifling heat of the Texas summer and ensure ideal conditions for the players.

Probable starting lineups

Portugal (4-3-3): Diogo Costa; Semedo, Rúben Dias, Gonçalo Inácio, Nuno Mendes; Vitinha, João Neves, Bruno Fernandes; João Félix, Cristiano Ronaldo, Pedro Neto.

Uzbekistan (4-2-3-1): Utkir Yusupov; Rustam Ashurmatov, Abdukodir Khusanov, Abdulla Abdullaev, Sherzod Nasrullaev; Otabek Shukurov, Odiljon Hamrobekov; Abbosbek Fayzullaev, Oston Urunov, Jamshid Iskanderov; Eldor Shomurodov.