Michael Adkison/Houston Public Media
Portugal fans celebrate with a march ahead of their team’s World Cup match in Houston on June 23, 2026.
Last week, the Portugal soccer team faced something of an upset in the FIFA World Cup, with a tie against the underdog Democratic Republic of Congo. Ahead of Portugal’s second match in Houston, fans were anything but deterred.
Instead, thousands of Portugal fans gathered at the Smith Lands South Parking Lot, near the Texas Medical Center, to march to NRG Stadium ahead of the match against Uzbekistan at noon Tuesday. Chanting captain Cristiano Ronaldo’s name, many said they came to support Ronaldo, the 41-year-old star who scored during the first few minutes of the match to become the first player to score goals in six different World Cup tournaments.
“As soon as I saw the Portugal national team page post about the fan walk-up, I was like, ‘Yup, that’s it,'” said Daniel Zamora, a fan who traveled from Miami. He wore a scarf with Ronaldo’s face stitched into it.
Michael Adkison/Houston Public Media
Daniel Zamora wears a Cristiano Ronaldo-themed scarf ahead of Portugal’s World Cup match in Houston on June 23, 2026.
The Portuguese march — and another similar march from the Uzbekistan fans — came on the heels of a massive march put together by Netherlands fans in Houston on Saturday that drew as many as 10,000 fans to the praise and celebration of many Houstonians.
Portugal is no stranger to fan marches and even held a much smaller march before its June 17 match in Houston against Congo, according to a World Cup host committee official. But ahead of Tuesday’s match — and following the massive Dutch march — Portuguese fans opted for a bigger, more structured march.
“I kind of want something similar to experience like that,” said Zamora, who had purchased tickets to the match. “And just to enjoy the game. Hopefully, two, three Ronaldo goals today and a Portugal win.”
Michael Adkison/Houston Public Media
Portugal fans celebrate with a march ahead of their team’s World Cup match in Houston on June 23, 2026.
Many of the fans traveled from across the globe to celebrate Portugal in what’s expected to be Ronaldo’s final World Cup. Raosan Arif, who originally came from Iraq but is now studying in California, said this was his chance to see Ronaldo.
“I tried once or twice to go to Al-Nassr’s match in Iraq,” Arif told Houston Public Media, referencing the club Ronaldo also captains in the Saudi Pro League. “But Cristiano, he never came to Iraq, unfortunately. And so I was like, ‘Oh this is my chance. He came to the USA.'”
Michael Adkison/Houston Public Media
A young Portugal fan holds up a sign ahead of the team’s match in Houston on June 23, 2026.
For other fans, like Rey Rueda who lives in Spring, the journey wasn’t far. He didn’t have tickets to the match but wanted to celebrate the moment as one he could remember for years to come.
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“I’m trying to capture the atmosphere,” he told Houston Public Media, holding a video camera. “My grandpa was Portuguese. He died a long time ago. So, I want to share this with my grandson, so that when he grows up, I just try to celebrate our roots.”
Michael Adkison/Houston Public Media
Portugal fans celebrate with a march ahead of their team’s World Cup match in Houston on June 23, 2026.
Prior to the march, Portugal fans spent more than half an hour cheering and hyping up. Rueda spent much of that time videoing the crowd chanting and celebrating.
“It’s more than a sport,” he said. “It’s countries uniting together, celebrating. To me, it’s just greatness.”