Portugal Pick 27 With Ronaldo Captain: Last-Dance World Cup for the 41-Year-Old, Trim to 26 by June 1
Roberto Martínez has named a 27-man provisional Portugal squad for the 2026 World Cup, with Cristiano Ronaldo as captain and on course for a record sixth tournament at age 41. The reigning Nations League champions are drawn in Group K with DR Congo, Uzbekistan and Colombia. The final 26 must be in by June 1.
R oberto Martínez has named a 27-player provisional Portugal squad for the 2026 World Cup, one above FIFA's eventual 26-man limit. The federation will trim the list by one before the June 1 deadline. Captain Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, is set for a record sixth World Cup appearance and a last chance to add the one trophy missing from his collection.
A last dance for Ronaldo, a near-peak group
Ronaldo arrives at the tournament as the all-time leading scorer in World Cup qualifying preliminaries. Around him sit playmaker Bruno Fernandes, midfield orchestrator Bernardo Silva, explosive winger Rafael Leão and the Manchester City defensive axis of Rúben Dias and João Cancelo. The PSG bloc is especially strong, with João Neves, Vitinha, Nuno Mendes and Gonçalo Ramos all in the pool.
Reigning Nations League champions, never world champions
Portugal hold the UEFA Nations League title. The trophy they still chase is the one Ronaldo has never lifted. Their best World Cup finish remains the third place in 1966. It is the country's seventh consecutive appearance at the finals and the ninth in total. The team is also widely considered one of the pre-tournament favourites, an unusual posture for a Portugal squad heading into a World Cup.
Group K fixtures
Portugal open Group K against DR Congo on June 17 in Houston, face Uzbekistan on June 23 also in Houston and close the group against Colombia on June 27 in Miami Gardens. The Colombia closer is the most loaded match-up of the group, with both sides expected to be jockeying for the top spot heading into matchday three.