NRG Stadium in Houston plays host to one of the most anticipated fixtures of the FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage, as Portugal face DR Congo in what promises to be a compelling encounter. The match will be broadcast live and free on BBC One in the UK, with streaming available via BBC iPlayer.

Studio team and presenter

Coverage on BBC One begins at 5:30pm, a full 30 minutes before kick-off. Mark Chapman will anchor the studio, joined by a panel featuring England legend Wayne Rooney and former France internationals Olivier Giroud and Gael Clichy.

Rooney made 120 senior appearances for England, scoring 53 goals — a record for the national side. He famously shared the pitch at the 2006 World Cup with Cristiano Ronaldo, his Manchester United teammate at the time, in a match that ended with Rooney's controversial dismissal.

Giroud and Clichy amassed 157 caps for France between them, contributing 57 goals to the national cause — all of which belong to Giroud. Clichy won the Premier League three times, with Arsenal and Manchester City, while Giroud secured the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Champions League at Chelsea. Giroud also lifted the World Cup with France in 2018 and was part of the squad that pushed Argentina to the final in 2022.

Commentary

Steve Bower takes the microphone as lead commentator, with former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy alongside him providing co-commentary.

Ronaldo chases history

All eyes will be on Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, who steps out in Texas for what is his sixth World Cup — a remarkable feat in itself. He arrives at FIFA World Cup 2026 seeking to add to his record goal tally for Portugal and cement his legacy as the tournament's all-time leading scorer.