Portugal arrive at the 2026 World Cup for their ninth appearance, a tournament history stretching back to 1966 when they announced themselves as a genuine force on the world stage. That debut remains their finest hour: third place in England, carried by Eusébio, who finished as top scorer. They returned with distinction in 2006, finishing fourth in Germany with Luís Figo and a young Cristiano Ronaldo leading the side. No title has come, but Portugal have qualified for every World Cup since 2002 and are now a fixture among the sport's elite.

Portugal secured their place in the 2026 tournament on 11/16/25, beating Armenia nine goals to one in Porto. The result was all the more striking for the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo, who sat out suspended after being sent off in a two nil defeat to the Republic of Ireland four days earlier. Bruno Fernandes and João Neves each scored hat tricks to seal the group, papering over a campaign that had wobbled late: a two all draw at home to Hungary and that loss in Dublin had left qualification unresolved until the final matchday. Roberto Martínez's side finished on 13 points from six games.