Portugal vs Uzbekistan Preview and TV Guide: Kickoff, Lineups & How to Watch

Portugal vs Uzbekistan: who, when and why it matters

Portugal face Uzbekistan in a crucial Group K match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday, June 23, with kickoff at 1:00pm ET (17:00 UTC). The match, played in Houston, is a must-win assignment for Portugal after they were held 1-1 by DR Congo in the group opener; Uzbekistan arrive having lost 3-1 to Colombia but with a historic first goal to their name. This preview covers the latest team news, the tactical battle to expect and how to watch the game live in the USA.

Why it matters

Portugal entered the tournament as one of the pre-tournament favourites but produced a flat performance in round one, managing just one shot on target and drawing 1-1 with DR Congo. A convincing win here would restore momentum and set up a decisive final group match against Colombia. For Uzbekistan — making their first appearance at a World Cup — a resilient showing or a surprise result would be a landmark moment and provide real belief ahead of their final group game against DR Congo.

Tactical battle and team news

Portugal are expected to dominate possession and will be judged on whether they can turn territorial control into clear chances after a low expected-goals (xG) output in the opener. Manager Roberto Martinez may look to tweak the attack to unlock chances; the source suggests Francisco Conceição could be considered to add pace on the wings while Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to lead the line again. There is hope that Rúben Dias could return from injury to reinforce the backline, but that was reported as a possibility rather than an official confirmation.

Uzbekistan, coached by Fabio Cannavaro, are likely to set up to frustrate — the preview anticipates a five-man defensive structure that can turn compact and hard to break down. They arrive with little to lose after a 3-1 defeat to Colombia; Abbosbek Fayzullaev scored Uzbekistan’s first-ever World Cup goal in that game. Uzbekistan face a defensive worry with centre-back Rustam Ashurmatov reported as doubtful after a calf problem, which could force a reshuffle if confirmed.

The match will also be the first-ever meeting between Portugal and Uzbekistan, so there is no head-to-head history to influence tactical choices. The key questions are whether Portugal can move the ball faster and create higher-quality chances, and whether Uzbekistan can remain compact and hit on the counter.

Projected XIs (reported by the preview)

The source published projected lineups; these should be treated as provisional: Portugal (4-2-3-1) — Costa; Mendes, Veiga, Dias, Cancelo; Neves, Vitinha; Neto, Fernandes, Conceição; Ronaldo. Uzbekistan (3-4-3) — Yusupov; Abdullaev, Ashurmatov, Khusanov; Nasrullayev, Shukurov, Mozgovoy, Karimov; Fayzullaev, Urunov; Shomurodov.

How to watch in the USA

Broadcasters and streaming platforms carrying Portugal vs Uzbekistan in the USA include FOX and Telemundo on television, and streaming services Fubo, DirecTV Stream, Sling, Peacock Premium and Hulu + Live TV. The match kicks off at 1:00pm ET / 10:00am PT on Tuesday, June 23 (17:00 UTC). Fubo is compatible with Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, iOS and Android devices and web browsers; the preview lists a subscription price for Fubo of $14.99 per month. If viewers are abroad and want to access their usual streaming service, the source notes a VPN can be used to connect to a supported region.

• Kickoff: 1:00pm ET / 10:00am PT (17:00 UTC) on Tuesday, June 23, 2026 (match_data confirms kickoff at 17:00 UTC).
• Broadcasters in the USA: FOX, Telemundo; stream on Fubo, DirecTV Stream, Sling, Peacock Premium and Hulu + Live TV.
• Portugal opened Group K with a 1-1 draw vs DR Congo and need a win to regain momentum.
• Uzbekistan lost 3-1 to Colombia; Abbosbek Fayzullaev scored Uzbekistan’s first-ever World Cup goal.
• This will be the first meeting between Portugal and Uzbekistan.
• Reported squad notes: Rúben Dias was mentioned as hopeful to return; Rustam Ashurmatov was listed as doubtful for Uzbekistan (both unconfirmed).

What it means and what happens next

A win would put Portugal back in control of their Group K destiny and set up a final-match showdown with Colombia, while Uzbekistan will aim to take confidence and momentum into their final group fixture against DR Congo. Both sets of managers must balance risk and caution: Portugal need to open up the game without inviting reckless transitions, while Uzbekistan must decide how aggressively to chase a positive result knowing they showed better attacking intent later in their opener. Expect team news and confirmed starting XIs to be finalised shortly before kickoff.