Ronaldo tipped to undo the Uzbeks
Tuesday night could be a key one in Group K at the 2026 World Cup, as Portugal take on Uzbekistan as part of the second round of group stage matches. Portugal were one of several tournament favourites that struggled in their opening game of the competition, as they drew 1-1 with DR Congo. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan’s World Cup debut went about as well as most of us expected, as it ended in a 3-1 loss to Colombia.
Ahead of a crucial evening for Cristiano Ronaldo & Co, PP News tipster Feargal Brennan has four value picks as part of a Bet Builder, so let’s get his Portugal v Uzbekistan tips!
Portugal v uZbekistan Bet Builder Tips
Portugal to win & under 3.5 goals
Cristiano Ronaldo to score
Bruno Fernandes 1+ shots on target including woodwork
Abdukodir Khusanov 2+ fouls committed
A Bet Builder with these selections pays approximately 8/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK OR TAP HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
WHEN: Tuesday, June 23rd, 6pm
WHERE: NRG Stadium, Houston.
TV: ITV1/ITVX/RTE2
Portugal to win & under 3.5 goals: Yes
Portugal endured an off-night against DR Congo which saw them slip down the market in Paddy’s outright picks for World Cup glory this summer. However, they have a fresh attempt to fire a warning shot to their rivals on their return to Houston.
Roberto Martinez’s team are still expected to cruise into the knockouts, as they’ve only lost one of their last 14 games after Ronaldo saw red in Dublin in November.
Uzbekistan showed their greenness against Colombia, but they have the tools to make life difficult for Portugal, on a night where victory is the key objective. Portugal have only scored seven goals from five matches in 2026, so maybe don’t expect a high-scoring showdown here.
Cristiano Ronaldo to score
Ronaldo was a bystander for much of the draw with DR Congo as Martinez threw on Goncalo Ramos, Francisco Concecaio and Rafael Leao to try and help him. Despite failing to even register a shot on target, there appears little danger of Martinez dropping his captain, but he might not last 90 minutes.
He ended qualifying as Portugal’s top scorer, with six goals, and has eight split across his five previous World Cups. He also has a solid record in the second group stage match at World Cup, scoring in three out of five, and his teammates will once more look to create a golden opportunity for him.
Bruno Fernandes 1+ shots on target including woodwork
Bruno joined Ronaldo in failing to hit the target against a well-drilled DR Congo defence – in fact, Joao Neves’ goal was Portugal’s sole effort that did.
The Manchester United skipper will be hoping for a greater impact on Tuesday. He was second only to Ronaldo for shots on target in qualifying, with six compared to 12, at an average of 1.2 per game. On top of that, only three players fired off more shots than him in the Premier League last season, and in a contest where Portugal should dominate, he’ll be vital in and around Ronaldo.
Abdukodir Khusanov 2+ fouls committed
As the only name playing his club football in a major European league, Man City star Khusanov is the big fish in Uzbekistan’s squad. He did his best to make an impact against Colombia, but that often meant committing fouls, with three in total before being booked for clattering Luis Diaz. His reputation as a bit of a hothead is well earned, as he was sent off against Iran in a November friendly, alongside two fouls in each of Uzbekistan’s final two qualifiers.
Portugal v uZbekistan Tips
Portugal to win & under 3.5 goals
Cristiano Ronaldo to score
Bruno Fernandes 1+ shots on target including woodwork
Abdukodir Khusanov 2+ fouls committed
A Bet Builder with these selections pays approximately 8/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK OR TAP HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
READ MORETap here for PP.com’s latest football oddsThe Paddy Power Guide To Safer Gambling – Everything You Need To Know