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Antonio Simoes, a former footballer from Portugal and a member of the 1966 FIFA World Cup team that secured a historic third-place finish, expressed his confidence in the current squad's potential for success in the upcoming 2026 tournament. He emphasized the crucial role of star striker Cristiano Ronaldo in influencing match outcomes.

Before embarking on their World Cup journey, Portugal is set to compete in friendly matches against Chile on June 6 and Nigeria on June 10. Their World Cup campaign will kick off against Congo on June 17, followed by a match against Uzbekistan on June 23, and they will wrap up the group stage with a game against Colombia on June 27. This tournament will mark Cristiano Ronaldo's sixth appearance at the FIFA World Cup, a title he has yet to claim despite numerous accolades at both international and club levels.

In a conversation with FIFA, Simoes praised the current generation of Portuguese players, stating they possess all the qualities necessary for a successful football team. He urged the squad to maintain their 'pride and unity.' He remarked, 'This generation has everything: a solid defense, skilled goal scorers, and strategic thinkers in midfield.'

Simoes acknowledged the challenges teams face without strategic players, asserting that Portugal is fortunate to have them. He stressed the importance of pride and unity, hoping that each player enters the field with the determination to create history, noting that humility should be viewed as a pathway to success rather than a sign of weakness.

Regarding Cristiano Ronaldo, Simoes referred to him as a 'great player' who may be experiencing his 'last dance' on the international stage. He stated, 'This could be Ronaldo's final opportunity to win the World Cup. He still has the ability to influence matches if he stays close to the goal.'

During a training session on Tuesday, the Portugal national team welcomed the women's team and revealed the jersey numbers for the players. The number 21, previously worn by the late Diogo Jota, will now be donned by his close friend Ruben Neves, who spoke about Jota's enduring spirit within the team during a press conference. Matheus Nunes will wear the number six jersey, while Samu will sport number 24. Tomas Araujo will have number four, and Nuno Mendes will wear number 25. Other players will wear the following numbers: Diogo Costa (1), Nelson Semedo (2), Ruben Dias (3), Diogo Dalot (5), Cristiano Ronaldo (7), Bruno Fernandes (8), Goncalo Ramos (9), Bernardo Silva (10), and Joao Felix (11).