Portugal Names Ronaldo as Team Captain for Sixth World Cup Appearance

Portugal Names 27-Man Squad for FIFA World Cup 2026, with Symbolic ‘Plus-One’ Tribute to Diogo Jota

Portuguese national team coach Roberto Martinez has announced a 27-man squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026, including a symbolic “plus-one” in memory of late forward Diogo Jota. The squad will be led by Cristiano Ronaldo, who will make his sixth World Cup appearance at the age of 41.

The team will travel to the United States, Mexico, and Canada for the tournament, where they will face several group-stage opponents, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uzbekistan, and Colombia. Martinez confirmed that fourth-choice goalkeeper Ricardo Velho from Genclerbirligi Ankara will join the squad but can only be added to the official 26-man list in case of an injury to one of the three registered keepers.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Martinez praised Jota’s contributions to the team, saying he is “our strength and our joy.” The coach explained that the selection process was influenced by the complexity of the tournament and the need for versatility among players. He highlighted the skills of Diogo Dalot, Joao Cancelo, and Matheus Nunes, as well as attacking options such as Joao Felix, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, and Francisco Trincao.

The squad will undergo training in Palm Beach, Florida, before their opening match on June 17. Goalkeepers include Diogo Costa, Jose Sa, Rui Silva, Ricardo Velho, and Defenders include Diogo Dalot, Matheus Nunes, Nelson Semedo, Joao Cancelo, Nuno Mendes, Goncalo Inacio, Renato Veiga, Ruben Dias, Tomas Araujo. Midfielders are Ruben Neves, Samuel Costa, Joao Neves, Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, and Forwards include Joao Felix, Francisco Trincao, Francisco Conceicao, Pedro Neto, Rafael Leao, Goncalo Guedes, Goncalo Ramos, and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Source: Al Jazeera