Portugal will begin the 2026 football World Cup on Wednesday, June 17, with a match against Congo. According to available information, the team built around Cristiano Ronaldo is among the favorites of the tournament in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, while Congo faces a historic start against a significantly stronger opponent. eurofotbal.cz ↗
For Ronaldo, this marks the start of his sixth World Cup finals. He made his debut on the World Cup's grand stage twenty years ago as a 21-year-old player, and he continues at the tournament even at the age of 41. At the same time, there is discussion in Portugal about his place in the starting lineup, though according to sources, coach Roberto Martínez continues to trust him as the national team's forward. According to pre-tournament assessments, Portugal has a very strong squad, and its ambition is to compete for the title. Tagesspiegel ↗
The match also carries a broader context for Congo. The national team's preparation was affected by an Ebola crisis in the country and strict directives from the authorities. Despite these circumstances, the team is set to take the field against Portugal and Ronaldo in a match that represents a significant moment for them at the World Cup. sport.sk ↗
Portugal enters the tournament at a time when attention is focused not only on sporting ambitions but also on the future of the coaching staff. According to available reports, Roberto Martínez may leave the Portuguese national team after the World Cup. The performance against Congo will thus be the first indicator of how well-prepared one of the favorites is for the tournament. sme.sk ↗
Portugal, with Ronaldo, enters the World Cup against Congo
This summary was generated by artificial intelligence. It may contain inaccuracies. Please verify information in the original sources below.
Sources (5)
Favorizované Portugalsko vyzve na úvod světového šampionátu Kongo
eurofotbal.cz
| 13:57 16.06.
Portugals Titelsammler: Aus Kindern werden Mitspieler: Ronaldos sechste WM beginnt
Tagesspiegel
| 06:13 17.06.
Nach der WM: Portugals Trainer Roberto Martínez vor dem Absprung
Tagesspiegel
| 21:17 16.06.
Fußball-WM: Messis sechstes Mal: Weltmeister setzt WM-Bestmarke
Die Zeit
| 03:04 17.06.
Představení favoritů: Portugalsko na MS ve fotbale 2026
isport.cz
| 12:00 16.06.
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