Portugal booked their place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 after a commanding 9-1 victory over Armenia, topping their qualifying group despite the absence of captain Cristiano Ronaldo.
The win, played on Sunday, saw Bruno Fernandes and Joao Neves each score hat-tricks, driving Portugal to first place in Group F and securing direct qualification for the tournament.
Ronaldo had been suspended for the match following a red card in Portugal’s previous 0-2 loss to Ireland on Thursday, which prevented him from participating against Armenia. Despite his absence, the team maintained a dominant performance. Ronaldo later celebrated the qualification on social media, posting: “We are in the World Cup! Let’s go, Portugal!”
Next year’s World Cup will be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, featuring 48 teams. This marks Portugal’s ninth overall and seventh consecutive World Cup qualification.
