At the age of 41, Cristiano Ronaldo is seeking the only major trophy that has eluded him during a glittering career when the five-time Ballon dOr winner captains a hotly-tipped Portugal side at the World Cup 2006.But for a hat-trick against Spain during the 2018 group stage on the way to a last-16 exit, the all-time record scorer in international football would have never netted more than once at a tournament he has featured at on every occasion since 2006.That sporadic success is only likely to fuel Ronaldos determination to shine for the Selecao, whose run 20 years ago was one of two World Cup tournaments at which they have reached the semi-finals, along with 1966.Heres the full confirmed and potential schedule for Ronaldo at the FIFA World Cup 2026. You can also find out the UK TV schedule for the games here.Table of ContentsRonaldo World Cup fixtures: Confirmed schedule, kick off timesIs Ronaldo playing in the World Cup 2026? Injury news updatesCristiano Ronaldo World Cup fixtures: Knockout stage, full bracketCristiano Ronaldo next match at FIFA World Cup 2026World Cup 2026: Will Cristiano Ronaldo lift the trophy?Portugal World Cup 2026 squad: Full list of Ronaldo teammatesRonaldo World Cup fixtures: Confirmed schedule, kick off timesPortugal face DR Congo, Uzbekistan and Colombia during the group stage. Heres when those games take place and their subsequent fixtures, as well as how to watch in the UK.DateMatchResultStageTime (BST)ETPTChannelJune 17DR CongoGroup18:0013:0010:00BBCJune 23UzbekistanGroup18:0013:0010:00ITVJune 28ColombiaGroup00:3019:3016:30BBCJuly 1/2/3TBCRound of 32TBCTBCTBCTBCJuly 5/6/7TBCRound of 16TBCTBCTBCTBCJuly 10/11TBCQuarter-finalsTBCTBCTBCTBCJuly 14/15TBCSemi-finalsTBCTBCTBCTBCJuly 18TBCThird-placed match22:0017:0014:00TBCJuly 19TBCFinal20:0015:0012:00BBC, ITVIs Ronaldo playing in the World Cup 2026? Injury news updatesRonaldo sat out his nations first two matches of 2026 with a hamstring injury but started both of their warm-up games for the finals as captain, featuring for 45 minutes against Chile followed by a 65-minute outing against Nigeria.Head coach Roberto Martinez has said the icon remains key for his side but could choose to use him selectively, as predecessor Fernando Santos did at the 2022 finals.Portugal had started Ronaldo in each of their previous 18 matches at the finals before he came on as a second-half substitute in the last-16 win over Switzerland and quarter-final defeat to Morocco in Qatar.The Real Madrid all-time top scorer called the 2026 edition a new chapter. Every time we wear this jersey, we feel the same pride, passion and the same sense of responsibility from day one, he added.Weve worked hard to get to this moment and now its time to give our all for our country, and for all the Portuguese communities that support us here and around the world. Believe it like we do.Cristiano Ronaldo World Cup fixtures: Knockout stage, full bracketShould Portugal justify their status as favourites to win their group, they will face a third-placed team from group D, E, I, J or L in the last 32.Ronaldos team will meet the runners-up from that section if they come second and the team that wins it if they advance as one of the best-performing third-placed teams.Group L contains England, Croatia, Ghana and Panama. You can see the full bracket on FIFAs site.Cristiano Ronaldo next match at FIFA World Cup 2026Ronaldos next appearance at the World Cup is set to be in Portugals first game of the tournament against DR Congo on June 17 at 18:00 BST.World Cup 2026: Will Cristiano Ronaldo lift the trophy?Reigning Nations League champions Portugal are among the favourites to win the World Cup and have an immensely experienced squad.Metronomic midfielder Vitinha was player of the match in Paris Saint-Germains Champions League final win over Arsenal, joined by teammates left-back Nuno Mendes, playmaker Joao Neves and strikers Goncalo Ramos in becoming European champions.Joao Felix has rediscovered some of the form that caused Atletico Madrid to pay �113 million for him in 2019 since joining Ronaldo at Al-Nassr and Portugals forwards should not struggle for supply from midfield, although they have historically struggled to break down deep-lying defences.Manchester Uniteds creative inspiration, Bruno Fernandes, was the Premier League player of the season for 2025/26 and one of Manchester Citys toughest challenges next season will be working out how to replace the ingenious Bernardo Silva, who has joined Real Madrid.Enterprising wideman Joao Cancelo, industrious and versatile United full-back Diogo Dalot and City centre-half Ruben Dias are among Martinezs options at the back, ahead of goalkeeper and noted penalty-saver Diogo Costa.Argentina led by Ronaldos generational rival, Lionel Messi Spain, France, England, Brazil and Germany are among the likeliest candidates Portugal will have to beat to the title if Ronaldo is to win one more trophy on what is almost certainly his international swansong.Portugal World Cup 2026 squad: Full list of Ronaldo teammatesHeres the squad Ronaldo leads at his sixth World Cup, having scored a total of eight goals in the history of the tournament before the start of the finals.Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa (Porto), Jose Sa (Wolves), Rui Silva (Sporting), Ricardo Velho (Genclerbirligi)Defenders: Diogo Dalot (Man United), Matheus Nunes (Man City), Ruben Dias (ManCity), Nelson Semedo (Fenerbahce), Joao Cancelo (Barcelona), Nuno Mendes (PSG), Goncalo Inacio (Sporting), Renato Veiga (Villarreal), Tomas Araujo (Benfica)Midfielders: Ruben Neves (Al-Hilal), Samu Costa (Mallorca), Joao Neves (PSG), Vitinha (PSG), Bruno Fernandes (Man United), Bernardo Silva (Man City)Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr), Joao Felix (Al-Nassr), Francisco Trincao (Sporting), Francisco Conceicao (Juventus), Pedro Neto (Chelsea), Rafael Leao (Milan), Goncalo Guedes (Real Sociedad), Goncalo Ramos (PSG) Topics 2026 FIFA World Cup Alexis Mac Allister Argentina National Football Team Cristian Romero Emiliano Martinez Enzo Fernandez FIFA World Cup Giovani Lo Celso Inter Miami CF Julian Alvarez Lionel Messi Lionel Scaloni Lisandro Martinez Rodrigo de Paul World Cup World Cup 2026 Add us as a preferred source on Google If you enjoy reading this article, you can help support our independent football journalism by adding 101 Great Goals as a preferred source You Should Also Read Emotional Lionel Messi talks Ronaldo and Mbappe: Im enjoying this Ben Miller 17th June, 2026 Kylian Mbappe: World Cup 2026 playing schedule, fixtures, kick off times, where to watch, confirmed news updates and full France squad Ben Miller 17th June, 2026 World Cup 2026: Full fixtures, dates, games, schedule and results from FIFA football finals Ben Miller 17th June, 2026 World Cup 2026: Full list of confirmed teams, fixtures, groups and results Ben Miller 17th June, 2026 FIFA World Cup 2026: Full England fixtures, results, schedule, confirmed squad, next match, kick off times Ben Miller 17th June, 2026 FIFA World Cup 2026: Full France fixtures, results, schedule, confirmed squad, next match, kick off times Ben Miller 17th June, 2026
