Portugal’s World Cup opener against Congo featured an emotional off-field moment as FIFA president Gianni Infantino met Diogo Jota’s parents ahead of the game in Houston
10:41, 18 Jun 2026
Digo Jota and Andre Silva's parents Isabel and Joaquim Silva look on ahead of Portugal's World Cup opener against DR Congo
Diogo Jota's parents met with FIFA President Gianni Infantino ahead of Portugal's World Cup opener(Image: BBC)
FIFA president Gianni Infantino shared an emotional off-field moment during Portugal’s World Cup opener against DR Congo as he met Diogo Jota’s parents at the stadium.
Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, both tragically lost their lives in the summer of 2025. Jota, who previously represented Wolves and Porto during his career, had been expected to be part of Roberto Martinez’s squad for the tournament staged across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Sharing a heartfelt message on Instagram, Infantino said that the meeting served as a moment of remembrance and reflection during the tournament. "I was honoured to meet Joaquim Silva and Isabel Silva - the parents of late Portuguese brothers Diogo Jota and André Silva - before Portugal’s opening FIFA World Cup game against Congo DR in Houston" he wrote.
Infantino added: "Representing @portugal at this tournament was a dream Diogo nurtured with everyone who loved him and, while celebrating these moments of togetherness, we continue to keep Diogo and André in our thoughts. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to welcome you."
Before kick-off, a large image of Jota was displayed on the stadium screens during the national anthems, with Joaquim and Isabel visibly emotional as they watched from the stands.
Just minutes into the match, Portugal took the lead through PSG midfielder Vitinha, who headed in a cross from Pedro Neto before pointing to the sky in celebration.
All Portugal players wore special green and red wristbands for the opening fixture, a tribute to Jota, who earned 49 caps for his country and scored 14 international goals. The wristbands were presented to the squad by Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro during a pre-tournament gathering as a gesture of remembrance and support.
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Each wristband features the names of every member of the current World Cup squad alongside Jota. The bands were specifically manufactured to comply with FIFA’s strict equipment and on-pitch regulations, ensuring they could be worn during matches without breaching kit rules.
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Shortly after his death, his Portuguese teammate and close friend Ruben Neves adopted Jota's 21 jersey as way to keep the Liverpool forward part of the squad. "The number 21 jersey will go to Ruben Neves because, that way, that number will remain on the field and with all of us," said Martinez. "He had a very close relationship with Diogo and is the ideal person to represent him."
The Portugal manager also paid tribute to Jota ahead of the World Cup. "Diogo is our light," he said. "Diogo is our reference of wanting to do or needing to do what his dream was, which was winning titles for Portugal, like he did, winning the Nations League. He was a big part of what we built in the dressing room.
"He wanted to win the World Cup, so it becomes a bit of a responsibility, an example, because Diogo was the pure example of believing in whatever could be possible, always with that tenacity, always finding the answer in the right moment in the difficult moment in the game."