The 2026 FIFA World Cup began its group stage action on June 17, with Portugal facing DR Congo while England prepared to take on Croatia in their opening matches of the tournament.
Portugal secured their ninth World Cup appearance and seventh consecutive qualification, though their path to the tournament included some obstacles. A home draw against Hungary in October and a defeat in Ireland in November delayed their qualification celebrations until the final match, when Roberto Martinez's side defeated Armenia 9-1 without Cristiano Ronaldo, who had been sent off in Dublin.
Martinez has built a squad emphasizing tactical flexibility. Players like Joao Neves and Matheus Nunes can operate as full-backs or midfielders, while Joao Cancelo and Diogo Dalot play comfortably across either flank. Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva frequently rotate their positions. Despite this fluidity, the coach maintains a stable starting eleven with at least seven "untouchable" spots anchored by players including Diogo Costa, Ruben Dias, Fernandes, Silva, and Ronaldo.
Martinez faced uncertainty about his position a year ago, with Jose Mourinho waiting in the wings. However, winning the Nations League earned him a vote of confidence from the new Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proenca. While he suffered his first defeat in a qualifying phase after 43 matches, the Spanish coach secured his third World Cup appearance.
At 41, Ronaldo is participating in the World Cup for a record sixth time. He has previously scored eight goals across 22 matches in World Cup competition and remains close to reaching his 1,000th career goal milestone. The forward symbolizes Portugal's ambition to pair a World Cup trophy with their Euro 2016 title. In 2022, after Portugal's quarter-final exit, Ronaldo wrote on social media that "the dream ended," but he now returns to pursue what he describes as "the biggest and most ambitious dream" of his career.
Gonçalo Inácio has emerged as a key defensive prospect. The centre-back, who was a backup in the youth ranks, became a pillar for Sporting and one of its captains. He is expected to partner Ruben Dias in defense, with his line-breaking passes considered vital for Portugal's tournament strategy.
Diogo Costa, the Porto captain, serves as Portugal's goalkeeper and penalty-saving specialist. He famously stopped three consecutive penalties against Slovenia at Euro 2024 and saved a crucial Spanish penalty in the Nations League final.
England, meanwhile, arrived at the tournament with high expectations following their run to the European Championship final. Jude Bellingham was set to start in England's number 10 role against Croatia, a position considered central to the team's formation and reflecting his importance to their campaign.