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Portugal 9-1, Names Ronaldo for Final World Cup

5/20/2026

41 7 Full Breakdown

Summary

Portugal Qualifies

Portugal qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup by defeating Armenia 9–1 in Porto.
Roberto Martínez named a 27-man squad on May 19 that includes goalkeeper Ricardo Velho in memory of Diogo Jota and 41-year-old captain Cristiano Ronaldo for his sixth and likely final World Cup.
Portugal open Group K on June 17 in Houston versus DR Congo, then meet Uzbekistan on June 23 and Colombia on June 27, while being ranked No. 5 in the FIFA rankings.

Summary

Portugal Preps

Portugal will play Chile on June 6 in Oeiras and Nigeria on June 10 in Leiria.
The squad will train in Palm Beach, Florida before heading to the United States.
Coach Roberto Martínez honored striker Diogo Jota, whose name is greyed out on the list.
Bookmakers give Portugal the sixth-best odds to win the 2026 World Cup.
U.S. TV will show 21 matches on FOX and 19 on FS1, many in prime-time.

Summary

Shakira Headlines

Shakira will headline the FIFA World Cup halftime show with global stars.
The announcement came as Portugal released its 27-man roster on May 19, 2026.
Argentina forward Lionel Messi is expected to join Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo for a sixth World Cup.
Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa confirmed this will be his final World Cup.
FIFA launched an official ticket resale marketplace on April 2, 2026 for U.S., Canada and Mexico matches.

Summary

Ronaldo Avoids Ban

Ronaldo avoided a three-match ban after his November red card, while fourth-choice keeper Ricardo Velho is on standby for injuries.
Bruno Fernandes aims to set the Premier League assist record while coach Roberto Martínez calls Portugal a “title candidate,” not a favorite.
PSG’s Vitinha, João Neves, Nuno Mendes and Gonçalo Ramos will also play the Champions League final on 30 May, adding to their pre-World Cup load.

History

Historical Context

Portugal’s 1966 World Cup run, where Eusébio scored nine goals and secured third place after a 2-1 semi-final loss to England, set the nation’s first major success. Since qualifying for every tournament from Euro 2000 onward, the team now under coach Roberto Martínez (appointed 2023) seeks to revive that legacy at the upcoming World Cup.

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Portugal Qualifies

Portugal qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup by defeating Armenia 9–1 in Porto.
Roberto Martínez named a 27-man squad on May 19 that includes goalkeeper Ricardo Velho in memory of Diogo Jota and 41-year-old captain Cristiano Ronaldo for his sixth and likely final World Cup.
Portugal open Group K on June 17 in Houston versus DR Congo, then meet Uzbekistan on June 23 and Colombia on June 27, while being ranked No. 5 in the FIFA rankings.

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