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Portugal Squad for 2026 UEFA Nations League: Cristiano Ronaldo Likely to Feature in Fall Matches

Portugal Starts 2030 Cycle with UEFA Nations League

After the 2026 FIFA World Cup concluded, Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal are gearing up for four group stage games in the UEFA Nations League. Even though Ronaldo confirmed that the recent World Cup would be his last tournament, he remains active with the national team.

Portugal advanced to the Round of 16 in Qatar but were eliminated by Spain, the eventual champions, with a narrow 1-0 loss. The Selecao now focus on their League A group stage opponents: Wales, Denmark, and Norway. These matches will take place during the September-October international window, including two encounters against Norway.

Only the group winner moves on to the semifinals, so every match holds high stakes.

Anticipated Roster Reveal

The Portuguese squad is expected to be announced on Friday, September 18. Unlike some national teams that might prioritize friendlies with younger or fringe players this fall, Portugal plans to field a strong lineup due to the competitive nature of these Nations League fixtures.

European sides generally bring their best squads for these matches, contrasting with other countries that might rest key stars. That means fans can expect many first-choice players to be called up.

Projected Portugal Lineup for September and October 2026

  • Goalkeepers
  • Diogo Costa – Porto (POR), 48 caps
  • Jose Sa – Wolves (ENG), 5 caps
  • Rui Silva – Sporting CP (POR), 3 caps
  • Tomas Araujo – Benfica (POR), 6 caps
  • Joao Cancelo – Barcelona (ESP), 73 caps
  • Diogo Dalot – Man United (ENG), 37 caps
  • Ruben Dias – Man City (ENG), 80 caps
  • Goncalo Inacio – Sporting CP (POR), 22 caps
  • Nelson Semedo – Fenerbahce (TUR), 54 caps
  • Antonio Silva – Bournemouth (ENG), 20 caps
  • Renato Veiga – Villarreal (ESP), 18 caps
  • Bruno Fernandes – Man United (ENG), 94 caps
  • Mateus Fernandes – Tottenham (ENG), 1 cap
  • Joao Neves – PSG (FRA), 27 caps
  • Ruben Neves – Al Hilal (KSA), 69 caps
  • Joao Palhinha – Benfica (POR), 37 caps
  • Bernardo Silva – Real Madrid (ESP), 113 caps
  • Vitinha – PSG (FRA), 43 caps
  • Francisco Conceicao – Juventus (ITA), 21 caps
  • Joao Felix – Al Nassr (KSA), 57 caps
  • Goncalo Guedes – Real Sociedad (ESP), 34 caps
  • Rafael Leao – Galatasaray (TUR), 49 caps
  • Pedro Neto – Chelsea (ENG), 30 caps
  • Goncalo Ramos – AC Milan (ITA), 27 caps
  • Cristiano Ronaldo – Al Nassr (KSA), 233 caps
  • Francisco Trincao – Al Ahli (KSA), 19 caps

Will Cristiano Ronaldo Play?

Despite announcing that the 2026 World Cup would mark the end of his World Cup appearances, Ronaldo has not retired from Portugal's international squad. With Jorge Jesus, his former coach at Al Nassr, now leading the national team, expectations are high that Ronaldo will be selected for the upcoming UEFA Nations League matches.

Where to Watch Portugal's UEFA Nations League Games

  • Portugal vs. Wales – Thu, Sep. 24, 2:45 p.m. ET, Estadio Jose Alvalade (Lisbon, Portugal), TV: Fox Soccer Plus, Streaming: fubo
  • Norway vs. Portugal – Sun, Sep. 27, 2:45 p.m. ET, Ullevaal Stadion (Oslo, Norway), Streaming: fubo, ViX
  • Denmark vs. Portugal – Thu, Oct. 1, 2:45 p.m. ET, Parken Stadium (Copenhagen, Denmark), Streaming: fubo, ViX
  • Portugal vs. Norway – Sun, Oct. 4, 2:45 p.m. ET, Estadio Do Dragao (Porto, Portugal), TV: Fox Sports 2, Streaming: fubo, ViX

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