HOUSTON, June 15 (Reuters) - Portugal’s latest ⁠bid for World Cup glory begins in Houston on Wednesday when they take on the Democratic Republic of ⁠Congo in a Group K clash against a side appearing at their first global finals in 52 ‌years.

DR Congo played as Zaire when they took part in the 1974 World Cup but lost all three games, conceded 14 goals and scored none. They are unlikely to be so poor again.

Portugal have 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo aiming to win one of the last remaining pieces of major silverware to ​have eluded him in his illustrious career.

They exited in the quarter-finals at ⁠the hands of another African side, Morocco, at ⁠the 2022 finals, while their best finish is third in 1966.

A positive start is important in a pool that also ⁠contains ‌Colombia and Uzbekistan.

They have lost only two of their last 15 World Cup group-stage matches, but one of those was to South Korea in 2022.

"We know the World Cup is a fast competition," Portugal defender Matheus Nunes ⁠said. "There are only eight games, and when we play against all these national ​teams, I think they all have ‌a lot of quality nowadays.