The Portugal national football team has officially announced its squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, confirming the inclusion of legendary forward Cristiano Ronaldo.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports, citing information published by the Championat news outlet, that the upcoming tournament will mark the sixth World Cup appearance in the football star's illustrious career.
In the group stage of the competition, Portugal is set to face the DR Congo, Uzbekistan, and Colombia. The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be a historic event, as it is the first edition of the tournament to feature an expanded format with 48 participating teams, up from the previous 32.
The lead-up to the tournament has been marked by geopolitical discussions. Some media outlets previously speculated that Iran could be excluded from the World Cup due to ongoing tensions with the United States and Israel, potentially opening a spot for Russia. However, Iranian officials entered negotiations with FIFA regarding the logistics of their matches, specifically discussing the possibility of moving games from the U.S. to Mexico. On May 18, Esmaeil Baghaei, the spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, announced that FIFA has provided guarantees regarding the Iranian national team's participation in the tournament.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This expansion to 48 teams is part of FIFA's initiative to increase global representation in the world's most-watched sporting event. For Cristiano Ronaldo, who has consistently broken records on the international stage, this tournament represents a final opportunity to secure the only major trophy missing from his collection while setting a new benchmark for longevity in professional football.
