Star-studded Portugal are heading into the 2026 World Cup ready to compete and as one of the tournament favorites in what looks set to be the legendary Cristiano Ronaldo's last dance on the international stage.
The team boasts a trio of PSG's recent UEFA Champions League winners in Vitinha, Nuno Mendes and João Neves. Alongside them, in arguably the tournament's strongest midfield, are Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes and new Real Madrid signing Bernardo Silva. Anything less than a deep run in the tournament will be a huge disappointment for the Seleção das Quinas.
Lining up in Group K alongside DR Congo, Uzbekistan and Colombia, the Portuguese look a safe bet to top the group, with the tantalizing prospect of a matchup between Ronaldo and fellow GOAT contender Lionel Messi and his Argentina teammates in the quarterfinals.
How did Portugal qualify?
While it made it through UEFA qualifying as Group F winners ahead of the Republic of Ireland, Hungary and Armenia, it wasn't all smooth sailing. The Portuguese were comprehensively beaten 2-0 by the Irish in Dublin back in November, in a match that saw Ronaldo receive his first red card while on international duty.
Who is Portugal's manager?
Having failed to win silverware during his tenure in charge of Belgium's "Golden Generation," Roberto Martínez will be hoping to go a step further with Portugal's similarly gifted roster.
The 52-year-old Spanish head coach often gives his more creative players, like Fernandes, Silva and Rafael Leão, license to express themselves. Primarily using an attacking 4-2-3-1 formation, the former Everton boss is comfortable switching between possession-based attacks and direct, counter-attacking play depending on the opponent, leveraging one of the deepest squads in international football.
Who is Portugal's key player?
EPL assist king Bruno Fernandes will be pulling the strings in midfield. But the key to how Portugal will perform in this World Cup will come down to how Martínez deploys the talismanic Cristiano Ronaldo.
The 41-year-old remains in exceptional condition for his age as he prepares for his sixth World Cup appearance, but there are clear signs that his ability to lead the line on the biggest stage may be fading.
Now playing for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner nevertheless has plenty of motivation going into this tournament. Records, including the oldest player to score and the oldest to appear in a World Cup final, are up for grabs for the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star should the Portuguese go all the way.
Who is Portugal's young player to watch?
PSG's 21-year-old midfielder João Neves possesses the sort of footballing maturity that belies a player of his age.
Able to effortlessly switch between operating as a deep-lying No. 6 or a box-to-box No. 8, Neves' reading of the game is reminiscent of past Portuguese great Luís Figo. This summer's tournament looks set to be the first of many that the Tavira-born star will light up.
Portugal's full 2026 World Cup squad
Goalkeepers
- Diogo Costa (FC Porto)
- José Sá (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
- Rui Silva (Sporting CP)
Defenders
- João Cancelo (Barcelona)
- Diogo Dalot (Manchester United)
- Rúben Dias (Manchester City)
- Gonçalo Inácio (Sporting CP)
- Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain)
- Matheus Nunes (Manchester City)
- Nélson Semedo (Fenerbahçe)
- Renato Veiga (Villarreal)
- Tomás Araújo (Benfica)
Midfielders
- Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)
- João Neves (Paris Saint-Germain)
- Bernardo Silva (Real Madrid)
- Rúben Neves (Al-Hilal)
- Samú Costa (Mallorca)
- Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain)
Forwards
- Francisco Conceição (Juventus)
- João Félix (Al-Nassr)
- Gonçalo Guedes (Real Sociedad)
- Rafael Leão (AC Milan)
- Pedro Neto (Chelsea)
- Gonçalo Ramos (Paris Saint-Germain)
- Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr)
- Francisco Trincão (Sporting CP)
Portugal's World Cup 2026 Group K fixture list and US TV schedule
Wednesday, June 17
Portugal vs. DR Congo
Kickoff: 1 p.m. ET, 10 a.m. PT
Stadium: Houston Stadium (NRG Stadium, Houston)
US TV: Fox, Telemundo
Tuesday, June 23
Portugal vs. Uzbekistan
Kickoff: 1 p.m. ET, 10 a.m. PT
Stadium: Houston Stadium (NRG Stadium, Houston)
US TV: Fox, Telemundo
Saturday, June 27
Colombia vs. Portugal
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET, 4:30 p.m. PT
Stadium: Miami Stadium (Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida)
US TV: Fox, Telemundo
How to watch the 2026 World Cup using a VPN for free
If you're traveling abroad and want to keep up with all the World Cup action while away from home, a VPN can help enhance your privacy and security when streaming.
It encrypts your traffic and prevents your internet service provider from throttling your speeds. Additionally, it can be helpful when connecting to public Wi-Fi networks while traveling, providing an extra layer of protection for your devices and logins. VPNs are legal in many countries, including the US and Canada, and can be used for legitimate purposes such as improving online privacy and security.
Read more: You Can Stream Every FIFA 2026 World Cup Match With a VPN. Here's How
However, some streaming services may have policies that restrict VPN use for accessing region-specific content. If you're considering a VPN for streaming, check the platform's terms of service to ensure compliance.
If you choose to use a VPN, follow the provider's installation instructions to ensure you're connected securely and in compliance with applicable laws and service agreements. Some streaming platforms may block access when a VPN is detected, so verifying if your streaming subscription allows VPN use is crucial.
ExpressVPN
Best VPN for streaming
ExpressVPN is our current best VPN pick for people who want a reliable and safe VPN, and it works on a variety of devices. It's normally $120 a year for its most popular plan (Advanced), but if you sign up for an annual subscription for $90, you'll get three months free. That's the equivalent of $6 a month.
How to livestream Portugal's 2026 World Cup matches in the US
Exclusive English live broadcast rights for every World Cup 2026 match are with Fox, with games to be shown on Fox and FS1. If you don't have access to either channel in your cable lineup, there are several alternatives. A number of major live TV streaming services, such as YouTube TV and Hulu Plus Live TV, carry both channels, but the cheapest option for most cord-cutters is the Fox One streaming app.
Fox One
Watch every game of the 2026 World Cup on Fox
Fox's direct-to-consumer streaming service launched in August last year. Fox One costs $20 a month or $200 a year and gives you access to Fox's complete TV portfolio, including sports-related channels such as Fox Deportes, Fox Sports, B1G, FS1, FS2 and local Fox stations.
Fubo
Carries Fox and FS1
You can watch Fox and FS1 on Fubo via the service's $74-per-month Pro Plan. Click here to see which local channels you get in your region with Fubo.
YouTube TV
Carries Fox and FS1
For $83 a month, YouTube TV's standard plan will get you Fox and FS1 along with a wide array of other channels. Plug in your ZIP code on YouTube TV's welcome page to see which local networks are available in your area.
DirecTV MySports
Carries Fox and FS1
DirecTV's MySports genre package includes access to both channels. If you're a new customer, you can get a discounted rate of $50 a month for your first two months, before the cost reverts to $70 a month. You can use its channel lookup tool to see which local channels are available where you live.
Livestream Portugal's 2026 World Cup matches in the US in Spanish
Spanish-language broadcast rights in the US are with NBCUniversal, with Telemundo set to show 92 games, and the remaining 12 will be broadcast on Universo. All content will be available to stream on Peacock, with the service set to offer Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos sound.
Peacock
Carries Spanish-language coverage of the World Cup
Peacock currently costs $11 per month for the ad-supported Peacock Premium plan and $17 per month for the ad-free Peacock Premium Plus plan.
Source: CNET
