Ruben Dias Ruled Out for Portugal World Cup Opener
Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez has confirmed that centre-back Ruben Dias will miss Wednesday's World Cup opener against DR Congo, telling reporters the Manchester City defender is not fit enough to risk in the first group-stage match Yahoo Sports. Polymarket traders still price Portugal at roughly a 10.3% chance to win the 2026 World Cup — fourth on the outright board behind France, Spain, and Argentina — but the absence of their defensive anchor hours before kickoff is exactly the kind of late squad news that can shift short-term sentiment on a contender.
Martinez said Dias picked up a fitness setback in the final days of preparation and has been working separately from the main group. "He's not at 100 percent, and it is important not to take risks," Martinez said at his pre-match press conference, according to multiple reports. "He is not fit for the game. He is working well, but we must think about when Ruben will be back at full fitness." Dias had featured in Portugal's last two warm-up fixtures against Chile and Nigeria, which had raised expectations he would line up against a DR Congo side making its first World Cup appearance in 52 years. Instead, Martinez will turn to a reshuffled back line with players such as Goncalo Inacio, Renato Veiga, and the versatile Ruben Neves or Diogo Dalot available to fill the gap.
What it means for the odds
On Polymarket's World Cup winner market, Portugal currently trades at about 10.3% to lift the trophy — a meaningful slice of outright volume for a squad built around Cristiano Ronaldo's record sixth World Cup and a deep supporting cast that includes Bruno Fernandes, Rafael Leao, and Vitinha. DR Congo remain heavy underdogs in the single-match market, so Dias's absence is unlikely to crater Portugal's opener price on its own. The market angle is longer-term: Portugal's path deep into the knockout rounds assumed a settled partnership anchored by Dias, and any uncertainty over when he returns introduces risk premium into their outright odds. Martinez framed the decision as protecting Dias for the weeks ahead rather than gambling on one group game, but traders watching defensive depth across a 48-team, cross-continent tournament tend to react quickly to missing starters at the back. If Portugal win without him and Dias returns for the second group match, the outright price may barely move; a sloppy defensive display against Congo could push Portugal's winner odds lower even in victory. Prediction markets price information fast — this is precisely the sort of verified squad news worth watching before Houston kickoff. Odds shown are from Polymarket and change continuously; this article is not financial advice.
Odds via Polymarket and move constantly — figures reflect the time of writing (June 17, 2026). Not financial advice. Prediction-market trading is restricted in some regions; see our responsible-use page.