Cristiano Ronaldo told CNN this World Cup is, definitively, his last. He is 41 years old, a five-time Ballon d’Or winner with 143 international goals across 226 caps for Portugal, and he arrives in Houston chasing the one prize that has stayed a step ahead of him across two decades at the top of the sport. If both Ronaldo and Lionel Messi take the pitch in 2026, they become the first men ever to play in six FIFA World Cups. That is the history on offer when Portugal meets Uzbekistan in Group K on June 23 at NRG Stadium — and the evening before, Monday, June 22 at 7 PM, House of Blues Houston on Caroline Street hosts the pre-match gathering: the Portugal vs. Uzbekistan Watch Party, ages 18 and up.
About the Match
Portugal enters Group K ranked fifth globally and as clear favorites. Their only prior meeting with Uzbekistan ended 5-2 in Portugal’s favor. Coach Roberto Martinez has been in charge since 2023, and the squad includes Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United and João Neves of Paris Saint-Germain alongside Ronaldo. Portugal’s best World Cup finish: third place in 1966. In Qatar in 2022, they reached the quarterfinals before falling to Morocco, 1-0. Portugal opens Group K play against DR Congo on June 17 in Houston, then faces Uzbekistan on June 23.
The more unlikely story, though, belongs to the other side. Uzbekistan arrives in Houston making their inaugural FIFA World Cup appearance — the first Central Asian nation ever to qualify for the tournament. The White Wolves finished second to Iran in AFC third-round qualifying, posting a 6-3-1 record. Their coach is Fabio Cannavaro, who won the 2006 Ballon d’Or and captained Italy’s World Cup-winning squad that same year; he took charge of Uzbekistan in 2024. Their captain and all-time leading scorer is Eldor Shomurodov — 43 international goals, with Serie A stints at Genoa, Roma, and Cagliari — and their most notable recent addition is defender Abdukodir Khusanov, now at Manchester City. A European power with everything to prove chasing a 41-year-old legend’s last dream; a nation writing itself into World Cup history for the first time. In Houston. In June.
About the Venue
House of Blues Houston occupies 1204 Caroline Street in Downtown Houston — a 1,800-capacity room that serves as one of the city’s principal live-event venues. On June 22, it becomes the pre-match staging ground for one of this summer’s most anticipated Group K fixtures. Add-on options are available at checkout: Special Entry and Fast Lane Access. The event is ages 18 and up.
Tickets & Pricing
Tickets start at $29.00. Purchase via the link above or at the House of Blues Houston website. For more events across the area, see our Houston concerts and events page.