Portugal national team FW #7 Cristiano Ronaldo reacts. (Photo by Patricia de Melo Moreira/AFP)
Portugal suffered a huge blow in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
They were hoping for a win against Ireland earlier today but are now down 2-0. Troy Parrott’s goal kept Ireland’s World Cup hopes alive.
Portugal, on the other hand, could secure a spot in the 2026 World Cup with a win today. It looks like the fate of the World Cup will be decided in the final match of the group stage.
They will face Armenia at home in Porto, but they need to win the match to qualify for the next World Cup.
Portugal hits Cristiano Ronaldo
Ronaldo to miss 2 games
Cristiano Ronaldo received a red card against Ireland and will receive a one-match suspension for the match against Armenia. If Portugal qualify for the World Cup, they will miss the first match of the tournament.
It remains to be seen whether Portugal will be able to get past Armenia without their star attacker. His absence in such an important match could definitely cause problems for the home team. However, there is sufficient quality and depth in the attacking line. They should be able to win this match and qualify for next summer’s tournament.
Ronaldo is keen to play in next year’s World Cup and hopes his teammates can get the job done against Armenia. On the other hand, if Portugal qualify, it would be a shame to miss out on the first match of the World Cup.
The Portuguese forward will aim to win the tournament next summer. This is the only major trophy missing from his cabinet, and he will aim to win it all the way this time.
