Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterThe most chaotic moment of Portugals Round of 16 match against Spain came in the 91st minute. Spain's Ferran Torres set up Mikel Merino for an added-time winner to send La Roja through to the quarterfinals, breaking millions of Portuguese hearts and ending Cristiano Ronaldos dream of a World Cup title. The second-most chaotic moment didnt take place on the pitch but in the mixed zone where hundreds of journalists crowded into the basement of AT&T Stadium to get a prime viewing spot for the post-match player interviews. Manchester Citys Rodri was first to speak, followed by his club teammate Rben Dias as the first Portugal player to appear in front of the media. As journalists prepared for an opportunity to ask Portuguese players about their heartbreaking collapse in Texas, a bizarre exchange took place.WATCH: Ruben Dias walks out of his mixed zone press conferenceRather than handing the microphone to the nearest journalist, Portugals press officer, Francisco Trigo de Abreu, demanded that a Portuguese journalist ask the first question. Arent there any Portuguese here? he questioned the room.When a Brazilian journalist attempted to ask a question, Abreu questioned where he was from before taking note of his Brazilian accent. He then turned to Renata Pereira, a Brazilian who has spent the past 22 years working as a FIFA Media Officer. Pereira suggested they do a quick round of questions in Portuguese. Abreu refused it had to be a Portuguese journalist. Perhaps he was looking out for personal connections. In Miami, after Portugals draw with Colombia, he ensured that Portuguese journalists were allowed to ask Roberto Martnez the bulk of questions in the post-match press conference. Back then, Portugal still harbored ambitions of reaching a maiden World Cup Final, and the stadium was overwhelmed by Brazilian and Colombian journalists, with Portuguese natives being crowded out amidst the noise.Abreu eventually got his way, repeating: Where are the Portuguese journalists? Just as Dias was getting ready to exit, a Portuguese journalist was finally spotted, and Abreu personally handed him the microphone.In the midst of this delay, however, Mikel Merino had arrived at an adjacent stage and stepped up to the microphone before speaking in front of the journalists in the mixed zone nearby. A logistical issue that has plagued the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Dias wouldnt allow it. He had had enough of Merino ruining the last two months, from helping Arsenal win the Premier League title at the expense of City to knocking Portugal out of the World Cup. He wasnt prepared to strain to discern what exactly the Portuguese journalist was saying and simply walked off the stage. Had Abreu simply handed the microphone to the nearest journalist instead of going to extraordinary lengths to find a compatriot, Dias wouldnt have had an issue understanding the question.Three Spain players spoke with press before a single Portuguese player had done so. Nlson Semedo finally arrived after an hour of waiting, but he was only able to answer three questions before being whisked away by Abreu, with Cristiano Ronaldo then heading to the microphone to discuss the defeat and confirm that this was, in fact his final World Cup. You may like I leave with a clear conscience. Ive done everything I could. Portugal had never won a cup before me Cristiano Ronaldo teases retirement after World Cup exit Why was 103rd minute Croatia equaliser ruled out by VAR in climactic World Cup knockout match? The most controversial quotes of the World Cup so far For a team that was regarded as one of the favorites going into this tournament, Portugals 2026 World Cup campaign will be regarded as a massive failure, one where their countless world-class players were never quite on the same page with one another. And for the hordes of journalists who had massed in AT&T Stadiums substratum, it will be remembered for Abreus odd behaviour.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.TOPICSRuben DiasRodriPortugalSpainManchester CityZach LowySocial Links NavigationAfter getting his big breakthrough as the co-founder of the football analytics website Breaking The Lines, Zachary Lowy has been able to tap into his footballing expertise for a number of esteemed outlets like ESPN, FotMob, The Times, The Independent and Urban Pitch. Since joining FourFourTwo as a freelancer in 2025, Lowy has been able to cover a wide range of topics from analyzing the sweeping changes to the MLS season to interviewing key figures like Asamoah Gyan and Rob Holding. Fluent in Spanish, Portuguese and Italian, Lowys versatile skillset has allowed him to traverse a number of different fields when covering major competitions like the FIFA Club World Cup. In addition to football, he is also a seasoned participant of other sports like pickleball, tennis, and volleyball.
