Aged 40 years since February 5, Cristiano Ronaldo has two immense objectives in his career: reaching the 1,000 goals' mark (there are 928 achievements at the high professional level) and competing in the 2026 World Cup in North America with the Portugal team. It is only in 15 months … The five-time golden ball, always as sharp with Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, remains the featured captain of the Seleça despite his 2024 distressing Euro. He should not retire international before the start of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers next September.
Portugal does not yet know its qualifying group of the “World Cup 26” organized in Canada, the United States and Mexico. The training led by Roberto Martinez is a bit in the same position as the French team. In the event of victory in the quarterfinals of the League of Nations against Denmark on Thursday in Copenhagen and Sunday in Lisbon, the quarter-finalist in Qatar will fall into the F group composed of Hungary, Ireland and Armenia. In the event of elimination against the Danes, the Portuguese will find themselves in Pool C with Greece, Scotland and Belarus (or Bélarus).
Portugal in a difficult group?
One route seems much easier than the other. In group F, Portugal would start in Armenia, the 100th in the FIFA ranking, on September 6, before challenging Hungary, the Hats 2 team of the draw, which is 30th world nation, then facing Ireland, 60th world nation, in October 2024. In group C, Portugal would start its qualifiers by defying two top 50 teams, Scottish, Greece, 39th, Belarus being only 98th in the FIFA classification. The 12 group winners will pocket their ticket for the World Cup, while the second will play disturbing dams (in the form of the Final Four).
The Portuguese selection, led by PSG players Nuno Mendes, Vitinha, Joao Neves and Gonçalo Ramos, is talented enough to dominate his qualifiers. But Ruben Dias and his teammates faced the Ecossais last fall, in the League of Nations, for a single victory torn off in the 88th minute at the Estadio Da Luz and a 0-0 at Hampden Park. The Greeks will not be easy to beat either. They finished equal points with England in their nations league group, even winning in Wembley (1-2), thanks to a double of Vangelis Pavlidis, well known in Portugal since he is the goalscorer of Benfica…
