Roberto Martínez Confirms Portugal's 26-Player Mundial 2026 Roster at Cidade do Futebol — Cristiano Ronaldo Captains the Group F Run Against DR Congo on 17 June, Uzbekistan on 23 June and Colombia on the 27th

Selecionador Roberto Martínez closed Portugal's final roster for the FIFA World Cup 2026 at a 13:00 press conference at the Cidade do Futebol in Oeiras on Monday 8 June. The 26-player list — four goalkeepers, nine defenders, six midfielders and seven forwards — runs into the Group F campaign that opens against the Democratic Republic of the Congo (RD Congo) in Houston on 17 June, continues against Uzbekistan on 23 June and closes the group stage against Colombia in the early hours of 27-28 June Lisbon time.

The Squad

Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa (FC Porto), Rui Silva (Sporting CP), José Sá (Wolverhampton), Ricardo Velho (Gençlerbirliği).

Defenders: Nuno Mendes (PSG), João Cancelo (Barcelona), Diogo Dalot (Manchester United), Rúben Dias (Manchester City), Nélson Semedo (Fenerbahçe), Renato Veiga (Villarreal), Gonçalo Inácio (Sporting CP), Tomás Araújo (Benfica), Matheus Nunes (Manchester City).

Midfielders: João Neves (PSG), Vitinha (PSG), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Rúben Neves (Al Hilal), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City), Samu Costa (RCD Mallorca).

Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr — capitão), João Félix (Al Nassr), Rafael Leão (AC Milan), Pedro Neto (Chelsea), Francisco Trincão (Sporting CP), Francisco Conceição (Juventus), Gonçalo Ramos (PSG).

What Stands Out

Martínez kept the spine of the qualifying run and resisted a late push from the SC Braga camp to include Pote — president António Salvador had publicly lobbied for the player's inclusion in late May. The Spanish coach explained the call by pointing to the squad balance in the inverted-winger positions, where Conceição and Trincão were preferred. Ricardo Velho takes the fourth goalkeeper spot after Rui Patrício's late-season form dipped at Roma. Samu Costa is the breakout selection: the Mallorca pivot earns his first major-tournament call-up after a season anchoring the LaLiga side's midfield.

The big absentees are António Silva (Benfica), João Palhinha (Bayern Munich) and Pedro Gonçalves (Sporting CP). Palhinha's omission was the most discussed inside the Cidade do Futebol briefing room — Martínez framed the decision as a tactical preference for a higher-pressing midfield that the Bayern destroyer does not currently fit. Cristiano Ronaldo, at 41, prepares for his sixth and final World Cup as captain, keeping the number 7.

What Happens Now

• Friendlies. Portugal closes the warm-up window with a friendly against Chile at the Estádio Nacional on Saturday 13 June at 18:45 Lisbon time, followed by a 10 June feriado fixture against Nigeria at 20:45.
• Travel. The delegation flies to the United States base camp on 14 June. The FPF has set up at a training facility within driving distance of NRG Stadium in Houston for the opener.
• Group F path. A first-place finish puts Portugal into the round of 16 on 1 July against the runner-up of Group H. Second place lands a 30 June match-up with the Group E winner, and a third-place qualification — available under the 48-team format — opens a 2 July knockout slot.
• Broadcast. RTP, SIC and TVI share the three group-stage fixtures domestically. RTP has also locked the rights to the Portugal-Colombia decider and, if Portugal advance, the round of 16 onwards.

The captain's armband stays with Ronaldo for the duration of the tournament. Martínez told reporters the leadership group around the forward — Pepe (retired from international duty), Bernardo Silva and Rúben Dias — has been formally extended to include Bruno Fernandes and Vitinha for the United States campaign.