The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) has officially announced its provisional squad selection for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, confirming a historic milestone for team captain Cristiano Ronaldo. The veteran forward has been included in the national contingent, positioning him to participate in an unprecedented sixth World Cup tournament. Scheduled to be staged across North America, the tournament will mark a record-breaking achievement in international football longevity for the 41-year-old attacker, who continues to serve as a focal point of his nation’s sporting ambitions.
The head coach of the Portuguese national team, Roberto Martínez, unveiled the 27-man provisional squad during a press conference at the FPF headquarters, situated at the Cidade do Futebol in Oeiras, near Lisbon. The selected group features four goalkeepers, with Diogo Costa, José Sá, and Rui Silva being joined by Farense goalkeeper Ricardo Velho.
Velho has been designated to travel as a standby backup, meaning he will only be integrated into the primary active list if one of the three first-choice goalkeepers sustains an injury during the initial preparation phase. Under strict FIFA regulations, this provisional list must be reduced to a final 26-player roster by the official submission deadline on 2 June. Consequently, Roberto Martínez will be required to omit exactly one player from the current squad before the tournament commences.
The defensive and midfield compartments contain nine players each. The defensive line is anchored by several established international names, including Manchester United full-back Diogo Dalot, João Cancelo, Paris Saint-Germain’s Nuno Mendes, and Manchester City centre-back Rúben Dias. These experienced figures are selected alongside Matheus Nunes, Nélson Semedo, Gonçalo Inácio, Chelsea’s Renato Veiga, and Benfica’s Tomás Araújo.
The midfield layout consists of Rúben Neves, João Neves, Vitinha, Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, João Félix, Francisco Trincão, Francisco Conceição, and Real Valladolid’s Samuel Costa. The inclusion of prominent individuals such as Bruno Fernandes, João Félix, and Rúben Dias was widely anticipated by football analysts prior to the official announcement.
In the attacking division, Cristiano Ronaldo is joined by four other forwards selected by Martínez. The frontline options include Paris Saint-Germain’s Gonçalo Ramos, Chelsea’s Pedro Neto, AC Milan’s Rafael Leão, and Gonçalo Guedes, providing the manager with a balanced blend of experienced finishers and raw pace on the flanks.
Tournament Schedule and Preparation Matches
Portugal have been drawn into Group K for the final tournament, where they are scheduled to face the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uzbekistan, and Colombia. The European nation will initiate their official World Cup campaign on 17 June against the Democratic Republic of Congo, with the fixture taking place at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.
This will be followed by their second group match against tournament debutants Uzbekistan on 23 June, which will also be hosted in Houston. The team will conclude their group-stage assignments on 28 June against Colombia, a highly anticipated fixture scheduled to be played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida.
Prior to crossing the Atlantic Ocean for the tournament fixtures in the United States, Portugal will contest two international friendly matches on home soil as part of their final warm-up phase. They are scheduled to face Chile on 6 June at the Jamor National Stadium in Oeiras. This will be followed by an encounter against Nigeria on 10 June at the Estádio Municipal de Leiria. Following the conclusion of these domestic fixtures, the entire squad will travel directly to their designated North American preparation camp in Palm Beach, Florida, to adjust to the local climate and time zones ahead of their opening match.
Complete Portugal World Cup Squad List
| Position | Selected Players |
| Goalkeepers | Diogo Costa, José Sá, Rui Silva, Ricardo Velho (Standby) |
| Defenders | Diogo Dalot, Matheus Nunes, Nélson Semedo, João Cancelo, Nuno Mendes, Gonçalo Inácio, Renato Veiga, Rúben Dias, Tomás Araújo |
| Midfielders | Rúben Neves, João Neves, Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, João Félix, Francisco Trincão, Francisco Conceição, Samuel Costa |
| Attackers | Pedro Neto, Rafael Leão, Gonçalo Guedes, Gonçalo Ramos, Cristiano Ronaldo |
FIFA Roster Rules Reminder: Head coach Roberto Martínez must trim this 27-man provisional group down by exactly one player to meet the mandatory 26-man limit imposed by FIFA ahead of the 2 June deadline.
