Portugal World Cup 2026 Squad Preview and Predictions

Portugal World Cup 2026 Squad Preview and Predictions

Nations League champions and Group K favourites for Ronaldo’s sixth World Cup. Squad, fixtures, predicted XI, Oddschecker markets, tactics and form.

Portugal arrive as Group K favourites and one of the most complete squads at the tournament, the reigning Nations League champions chasing a first ever World Cup. The story is Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, going to a record sixth World Cup in what is almost certainly his last, but for once Roberto Martinez’s side are about far more than their captain.

Who are Portugal and who is in the squad?

Roberto Martinez confirmed a 26-man squad on 19 May (travelling with a reserve goalkeeper as a 27th man). Captain Ronaldo, the all-time leading scorer in men’s international football, leads the line, but the depth is everywhere: Bruno Fernandes drives the team, Vitinha is the metronome, and Bernardo Silva, Rafael Leao and Nuno Mendes add elite quality.

Martinez can call on a midfield of Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes, Joao Neves and Bernardo Silva that can control any game, though Manchester City’s Ruben Dias misses the opening game against DR Congo after Martinez confirmed he is not fully fit and will not be risked. The attacking options also include Joao Felix, Pedro Neto and Goncalo Ramos.

Portugal’s confirmed 26-man squad

Goalkeepers

• Diogo Costa, Jose Sa, Rui Silva

Defenders

• Ruben Dias, Diogo Dalot, Joao Cancelo, Nuno Mendes, Goncalo Inacio, Renato Veiga, Nelson Semedo, Tomas Araujo

Midfielders

• Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes, Joao Neves, Bernardo Silva, Ruben Neves, Matheus Nunes, Samuel Costa

Forwards

• Cristiano Ronaldo (captain), Rafael Leao, Pedro Neto, Joao Felix, Goncalo Ramos, Francisco Conceicao, Francisco Trincao, Goncalo Guedes

This is the confirmed 26 (reserve goalkeeper Ricardo Velho travels as a 27th man). Ruben Dias remains in the squad but misses the opener against DR Congo through injury.

What is Portugal’s group and fixture schedule?

Portugal are in Group K with Colombia, DR Congo and debutants Uzbekistan. The top two from each group, plus the eight best third placed teams, reach the Round of 32.

They open against DR Congo and face Uzbekistan, two games they will be heavily favoured to win, before the group’s defining fixture against Colombia in Miami that is likely to decide top spot. Reaching the knockouts is expected.

Group K kick-off times are converted from the US schedule; confirm the exact UK times against the official FIFA schedule before publishing.

Date (UK)	Fixture	Venue
Wed 17 June, 6pm	Portugal v DR Congo	NRG Stadium, Houston
Thu 18 June, 3am	Uzbekistan v Colombia	Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
Tue 23 June, 6pm	Portugal v Uzbekistan	NRG Stadium, Houston
Wed 24 June, 3am	Colombia v DR Congo	Estadio Akron, Guadalajara
Sun 28 June, 12:30am	Colombia v Portugal	Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
Sun 28 June, 12:30am	DR Congo v Uzbekistan	Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta

 

What is Portugal’s predicted line up?

Martinez builds around a world-class midfield and gets the ball to Ronaldo and the wide forwards. With Dias missing the opener, the central defence reshuffles. The predicted XI below comes from recent reporting.

Predicted XI (4-3-3):

Diogo Costa; Cancelo, Dias, Inacio, Mendes; Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes, Joao Neves; Bernardo Silva, Ronaldo, Leao

This is a prediction, not a confirmed team sheet. Ruben Dias misses the opener against DR Congo, so for that game expect Goncalo Inacio partnered by Renato Veiga, with Diogo Dalot a candidate at right-back. Managing Ronaldo’s minutes is the key talking point, and Pedro Neto and Joao Felix push for the wide and attacking roles.

What are the anytime scorer and clean sheet odds?

The headline Oddschecker markets for Portugal are below. Match by match anytime goalscorer and clean sheet prices are listed on the individual Oddschecker fixture pages and move right up to kick off, so pull the live prices from there at upload.

Oddschecker market	Selection	Price
To win Group K	Portugal	around 4/9
To win the tournament	Portugal	around 9/1
To qualify (Round of 32)	Yes	heavily odds-on

 

Portugal are strong group favourites and rank among the top handful of outright contenders. For the scorer angle, anchor on Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes and Rafael Leao, and pull live anytime goalscorer prices from the Oddschecker fixture pages.

The headline prices above are converted from the Oddschecker market (group winner, outright and qualification). Top team goalscorer prices were not published on the group page, so for the scorer angle pull the live anytime goalscorer and top team goalscorer prices from the Oddschecker fixture and team pages at upload.

18+ only. Odds sourced from Oddschecker and correct at the time of writing (9 June 2026); prices move constantly, so confirm the live price on Oddschecker before publishing or betting. Please gamble responsibly. BeGambleAware.org.

How will Portugal play? Style and tactics

Portugal control games through their midfield, with Vitinha dictating tempo, Bruno Fernandes providing the creative and set-piece threat, and Bernardo Silva unlocking deep blocks. Nuno Mendes is among the best attacking full-backs in the world, and the front line has pace and goals beyond Ronaldo.

The key question is how building around a 41-year-old Ronaldo affects the balance, and whether Martinez manages his minutes well across the group, but this is a side built to go deep.

What is Portugal’s recent form?

Portugal won the 2025 Nations League, beating Germany in the semi-final and Spain in the final, proof Martinez’s system can deliver silverware. They qualified as UEFA group winners, sealing top spot with a 9-1 thrashing of Armenia.

Martinez, in his second international job after Belgium, has one of the most talented pools in the tournament, with the depth to rest players and still field a strong side.

Portugal World Cup 2026: frequently asked questions

Who is the Portugal captain?

Cristiano Ronaldo, playing in a record sixth World Cup at 41 and chasing the one trophy missing from his career.

Who is the Portugal manager?

Roberto Martinez, the former Belgium and Everton coach.

Are Portugal among the favourites?

Yes. They are reigning Nations League champions and among the top handful of outright contenders.

When is Portugal’s first match?

Wednesday 17 June 2026 against DR Congo at NRG Stadium, Houston, 6pm UK time.

What is Portugal’s World Cup history?

Their best finish was third in 1966 and fourth in 2006; they have never won the tournament.

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