🇵🇹 Portugal at the World Cup 2026

2026 World Cup summary

Portugal's tournament ended in Match 93: Portugal 0, Spain 1 in the Round of 16.

Portugal beat Croatia 2–1 to open the knockout route (Portugal vs Croatia), then lost the Iberian derby to Spain. Match recap: Spain 1–0 Portugal (Round of 16, Match 93).

Group results and standing

Portugal finished runner-up in Group K with 4 points and a +5 goal difference.

Knockout results

Coach & captain

Head coach: Roberto Martínez. The Belgian manager has overseen a transition in the Portugal squad, integrating the post-Ronaldo generation with the core of experienced players who reached the quarter-finals in 2022. The squad had the attacking quality to beat anyone on its day, even if the group stage suggested some inconsistency in the defensive structure.

How they qualified

Portugal qualified through UEFA European qualifying. The campaign showed flashes of the attacking brilliance this squad is capable of while also highlighting areas — particularly defensive organisation under pressure — that Martínez has worked to address ahead of the knockout rounds.

Group stage summary

Portugal finished runner-up in Group K with four points and a +5 goal difference — a record that understates their attacking threat. They scored freely but dropped points in circumstances that suggested some defensive vulnerability when opponents pressed them high. The +5 GD is among the better runner-up records in the tournament, and their forward line looks capable of competing with any team remaining in the draw.

Key players

• Bernardo Silva (attacking midfielder) — the most complete player in the Portugal squad. Technically exceptional, industrious defensively, and capable of decisive moments in the final third. The fulcrum of everything Portugal build through the middle.
• Rafael Leão (forward) — electric winger whose pace and directness from the left side creates chances for himself and others. His ability to beat players one-on-one is one of Portugal's most reliable attacking weapons.
• Diogo Jota (forward) — composed finisher who can play anywhere across the front line. His movement between the lines and clinical touch inside the box make him difficult to track and dangerous when chances fall to him.

World Cup history

Portugal's best World Cup finish was third place in 1966, when Eusébio was the tournament's top scorer. They reached the semi-finals in 2006 under Luís Figo and Cristiano Ronaldo before losing to France. In 2022, they reached the quarter-finals — their deepest run since 2006 — before losing to Morocco. This edition represents another opportunity to go further than Portugal's recent generations have managed.

Bracket path

Portugal's knockout route starts against Croatia at Toronto Stadium on July 2. The full bracket — and a potential path through to a semi-final against Spain or France — is visible on the bracket visualiser.