Home / Football / Internationals News Portugal squad announcement: Is Cristiano Ronaldo in Roberto Martinezs squad with the World Cup looming The football icon has not featured for Al-Nassr in weeks Written by Mitch Fretton Last Update: March 20, 2026 04:22:34 pm GMT 5 min read Roberto Martinez has named a 27-man Portugal squad for their March World Cup warm-up friendlies, with the headline news being the absence of captain Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo, 41, sustained a right hamstring problem while playing for Saudi Pro League leaders Al Nassr on February 28 and has been undergoing treatment in Madrid. He will miss both the game against Mexico at the renovated Azteca Stadium on March 28 and the clash with the United States in Atlanta on March 31.Martinez quickly moved to calm fears over Ronaldos World Cup participation. No, hes not in danger, the coach said when announcing the squad. Its a minor muscle injury, and we think he can be back in a week or two. Everything Cristiano has done physically this season shows that hes in great shape.Table of Contents1 Guedes return the headline inclusion2 Premier League presence3 Portugal squad in full4 Where to watch Portugal at the World Cup5 How to watch the World Cup in the UK: TV, online live stream6 When is the World Cup? 2026 dates7 Who has qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup?8 2026 World Cup groups9 When is the opening game of the World Cup?10 When are the play-offs?Guedes return the headline inclusionWith Ronaldo absent, all eyes turn to who will lead Portugals attack. Real Sociedad winger Goncalo Guedes returns to the squad for the first time since 2022 in excellent form, having scored nine goals this season.Martinez added: Guedes is a versatile player. Hes scored nine goals this season and is in excellent form. Hes a game-changing striker, a player who is of great interest to us. Ive already said that for the World Cup, the centre-forward position belongs to Cristiano and Goncalo Ramos, and were looking for a striker with a different profile. And hes in a form that deserves a call-up. Were very excited about what he could bring to the national team in these friendlies.Premier League presenceSix Premier League-based players feature in the squad, including Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes, who has been in scintillating form this season with seven goals and 16 assists in 27 league games. West Ham midfielder Mateus Fernandes earns his first senior call-up, while Chelsea winger Pedro Neto and Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa are also included.Ronaldos Al Nassr team-mate Joao Felix is named after a strong season in Saudi Arabia, and PSG trio Nuno Mendes, Joao Neves and Vitinha, along with Goncalo Ramos, continue to form a core of the squad based in France.This is Portugals final warm-up camp before Martinez must select his World Cup squad for the summer tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Portugal are in Group K alongside Colombia, Uzbekistan and a play-off winner.Portugal squad in fullGoalkeepers: Diogo Costa (FC Porto), Jose Sa (Wolves), Rui Silva (Sporting CP)Defenders: Matheus Nunes (Manchester City), Diogo Dalot (Manchester United), Joao Cancelo (FC Barcelona), Nuno Mendes (PSG), Goncalo Inacio (Sporting CP), Renato Veiga (Villarreal), Antonio Silva (SL Benfica), Tomas Araujo (SL Benfica)Midfielders: Ruben Neves (Al Hilal), Samu Costa (Mallorca), Mateus Fernandes (West Ham), Joao Neves (PSG), Vitinha (PSG), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Rodrigo Mora (FC Porto)Forwards: Ricardo Horta (SC Braga), Pedro Goncalves (Sporting CP), Joao Felix (Al Nassr), Francisco Trincao (Sporting CP), Francisco Conceicao (Juventus), Rafael Leao (AC Milan), Pedro Neto (Chelsea), Goncalo Guedes (Real Sociedad), Goncalo Ramos (PSG)Where to watch Portugal at the World CupPortugal are yet to discover their first group opponent, as they await the result of the play-offs. They will face Uzbekistan and Colombia in their second and third games. June 17: Portugal vs TBC (18:00, BBC)June 23: Portugal vs Uzbekistan (18:00, ITV)June 28: Colombia vs Portugal (00:30, BBC)How to watch the World Cup in the UK: TV, online live streamFans can stream the action via the BBC Sport and ITV websites, the BBC iPlayer app and the ITVX app, which are available on a vast variety of devices for viewing on the go.When is the World Cup? 2026 datesThe tournament runs from June 11 until July 19 2026.Who has qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup?You can find the latest list of countries to have qualified onFIFAs website.2026 World Cup groupsGroup AMexicoSouth AfricaSouth KoreaPlay-off winner: Denmark/Czechia/Republic of Ireland/North MacedoniaGroup BCanadaPlay-off winner: Italy/Wales/Bosnia-Herzegovina/Northern IrelandQatarSwitzerlandGroup CBrazilMoroccoHaitiScotlandGroup DUSAParaguayAustraliaPlay-off winner: Turkey/Romania/Slovakia/KosovoGroup EGermanyCuracaoIvory CoastEcuadorGroup FNetherlandsJapanPlay-off winner: Ukraine/Sweden/Poland/AlbaniaTunisiaGroup GBelgiumEgyptIranNew ZealandGroup HSpainCape VerdeSaudi ArabiaUruguayGroup IFranceSenegalPlay-off winner: Iraq/Bolivia/SurinameNorwayGroup JArgentinaAlgeriaAustriaJordanGroup KPortugalPlay-off winner: DR Congo/Jamaica/New CaledoniaUzbekistanColombiaGroup LEnglandCroatiaGhanaPanamaWhen is the opening game of the World Cup?The opening game will featureMexicoagainst South Africa on June 11 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.Canadawill take part in their opening game a day later in Toronto, with the United States also contesting their opening match on June 12 against Paraguay in Los Angeles.When are the play-offs?Six places at the World Cup are still to be decided, with four teams from UEFA along with two others from the five other confederations set to take their place at the finals.The UEFA play-offs and the Inter-confederation begin with semi-final ties on March 26. The play-off finals will follow on March 31, when the line-up will be completed. Follow us: Mitch Fretton Mitch is a freelance sports journalist with experience working for LiveScore, GOAL and Colchester United. He has experience working from both his desk at home and in the press box at games covering the Champions League and international football. Read more from Mitch Fretton
