Portugal has started preparing to qualify for the 2026 World Cup

The Portuguese national team began preparing today for the start of the qualifying phase for the 2026 World Cup, which will be against Armenia and Hungary, with the first training session taking place at the Cidade do Futebol, in Oeiras. A session that marked the return to work of coach Roberto Martínez's team after the death of Diogo Jota, and also of his brother André Silva, following a car accident on July 3rd. Among the new additions to Martínez's squad, highlights include the return of João Cancelo, who missed the Nations League title in June due to injury, and the limited work of Francisco Conceição. At the end of the afternoon, at Arena Portugal, also in Cidade do Futebol, former Liverpool striker Diogo Jota was honored, as was Jorge Costa, former center-back, Portuguese international and player and director of FC Porto, who passed away on August 5, aged 53, following a cardiorespiratory arrest. Diogo Jota and Jorge Costa were memorialized in a new "Heroes' Square" presented by the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF), attended by the families of the deceased athletes and the entire Portuguese national team. At the end, plaques honoring Diogo Jota and Jorge Costa were unveiled outside the building, in the presence of the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, and the Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, who honored them posthumously. Rúben Neves also served as the official spokesperson for the Portuguese national team.

In Group F, Portugal will kick off qualifying with a double away match, first in Yerevan on Saturday against Armenia, and on September 9th in Budapest against Hungary. Ireland completes the group. The group winner will secure a spot in the tournament to be held next year in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, which will feature 48 teams for the first time.

The Portuguese national team began preparing today for the start of the qualifying phase for the 2026 World Cup, which will be against Armenia and Hungary, with the first training session taking place at the Cidade do Futebol, in Oeiras. A session that marked the return to work of coach Roberto Martínez's team after the death of Diogo Jota, and also of his brother André Silva, following a car accident on July 3rd. Among the new additions to Martínez's squad, highlights include the return of João Cancelo, who missed the Nations League title in June due to injury, and the limited work of Francisco Conceição. At the end of the afternoon, at Arena Portugal, also in Cidade do Futebol, former Liverpool striker Diogo Jota was honored, as was Jorge Costa, former center-back, Portuguese international and player and director of FC Porto, who passed away on August 5, aged 53, following a cardiorespiratory arrest. Diogo Jota and Jorge Costa were memorialized in a new "Heroes' Square" presented by the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF), attended by the families of the deceased athletes and the entire Portuguese national team. At the end, plaques honoring Diogo Jota and Jorge Costa were unveiled outside the building, in the presence of the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, and the Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, who honored them posthumously. Rúben Neves also served as the official spokesperson for the Portuguese national team.

In Group F, Portugal will kick off qualifying with a double away match, first in Yerevan on Saturday against Armenia, and on September 9th in Budapest against Hungary. Ireland completes the group. The group winner will secure a spot in the tournament to be held next year in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, which will feature 48 teams for the first time.

The Portuguese national team began preparing today for the start of the qualifying phase for the 2026 World Cup, which will be against Armenia and Hungary, with the first training session taking place at the Cidade do Futebol, in Oeiras. A session that marked the return to work of coach Roberto Martínez's team after the death of Diogo Jota, and also of his brother André Silva, following a car accident on July 3rd. Among the new additions to Martínez's squad, highlights include the return of João Cancelo, who missed the Nations League title in June due to injury, and the limited work of Francisco Conceição. At the end of the afternoon, at Arena Portugal, also in Cidade do Futebol, former Liverpool striker Diogo Jota was honored, as was Jorge Costa, former center-back, Portuguese international and player and director of FC Porto, who passed away on August 5, aged 53, following a cardiorespiratory arrest. Diogo Jota and Jorge Costa were memorialized in a new "Heroes' Square" presented by the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF), attended by the families of the deceased athletes and the entire Portuguese national team. At the end, plaques honoring Diogo Jota and Jorge Costa were unveiled outside the building, in the presence of the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, and the Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, who honored them posthumously. Rúben Neves also served as the official spokesperson for the Portuguese national team.

In Group F, Portugal will kick off qualifying with a double away match, first in Yerevan on Saturday against Armenia, and on September 9th in Budapest against Hungary. Ireland completes the group. The group winner will secure a spot in the tournament to be held next year in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, which will feature 48 teams for the first time.