Where to watch Ireland vs Portugal today in the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers

The Irish team faces Portugal this Thursday, November 13, 2025, at the Aviva Stadium, in Dublin, in the ninth round of the European qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. The clash, scheduled for 4:45 pm Brasília time, represents a crucial opportunity for the Portuguese to guarantee direct qualification to the tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Ireland, coached by Heimir Hallgrímsson, needs an unlikely victory to maintain its chances of playoffs.

Portugal arrives as leader of Group F, with 10 points from four games, after a 2-2 draw with Hungary in the last round. Cristiano Ronaldo, scorer of two goals in that match, has accumulated five goals in the qualifiers and is looking to extend his record as the top scorer in the world qualifiers. Ireland occupies third place, with four points, and is coming off a 1-0 victory over Armenia.

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Swedish referee Glenn Nyberg officiates the game, known for his low average number of cards, just 0.05 per match. Expectations surround Ronaldo’s performance against a compact Irish defense, which has not conceded more than one goal in eight international games this year.

• Main absences in Ireland: Evan Ferguson (injured), Ryan Manning and Jayson Molumby (suspended).
• For Portugal: João Cancelo, Nuno Mendes, Nuno Tavares (injured) and Bruno Fernandes (suspended).
• Recent history: Portugal have won the last four meetings, including 1-0 in October 2025.

Probable formations on the lawn

Ireland adopts a 3-4-2-1 formation, with Caoimhin Kelleher in goal and a defense formed by Jake O’Brien, Nathan Collins and Dara O’Shea. In midfield, Seamus Coleman captains alongside Will Smallbone, Josh Cullen and Jack Taylor, while Festy Ebosele, Finn Azaz and Chiedozie Ogbene support the attack led by Troy Parrott.

Portugal responds with Roberto Martínez’s classic 4-3-3, with Diogo Costa in goal and a defensive line of Nelson Semedo, Rúben Dias, Gonçalo Inácio and Nuno Mendes, if available. The midfield has Vitinha, João Palhinha and Rúben Neves, with Bernardo Silva and Pedro Neto flanking Cristiano Ronaldo up front.

These choices reflect the Irish defensive strategy, prioritizing quick transitions, against the Portuguese offensive talent, which scored nine goals in the first three qualifying games. The previous match between the teams, in October, ended 1-0 for Portugal, with a solitary goal at the end.

Tactical balance can decide the score, especially with Ireland betting on counterattacks and Portugal controlling ball possession, as in 65% in recent duels.

Recent team performance

Portugal maintainedunbeaten in the qualifiers until the draw with Hungary, where Ronaldo shone with two goals, but a equalizer in the 91st minute prevented early classification. The team beat Armenia 5-0 and Ireland 1-0 in the previous round, demonstrating efficiency at home and away.

Ireland alternated results, with a 1-0 victory over Armenia, a 2-2 draw with Hungary and initial defeats. The eight international games in 2025 have tight margins, without elastic scores, which reinforces the resilience under Hallgrímsson.

In the FIFA rankings, Portugal occupies 5th place, while Ireland is in 62nd, a difference that is reflected in the odds: Portuguese victory at 1.33, draw at 5.25 and Irish triumph at 8.50.

These numbers indicate Portuguese favoritism, but the home factor can complicate things, with the Aviva Stadium packed with 51 thousand fans.

Team-altering injuries and suspensions

Ferguson, Brighton’s top scorer, is out with a muscle injury, forcing Parrott to take over the Irish attack, which has scored 13 goals in 14 games for AZ Alkmaar. Manning and Molumby are suspended for accumulating yellow cards in the victory over Armenia.

In Portugal, Cancelo tests his conditioning after a knee problem, while Mendes and Tavares are also recovering from injuries. Fernandes, suspended for red against Hungary, makes space for Vitinha in the middle.

These absences impact the balance, with Ireland losing offensive depth and Portugal adjusting its creation without the Manchester United midfielder. Coaches have been monitoring the group since Monday in Dublin.

The Irish medical department reports Ferguson undergoing rehabilitation at Roma, aiming for the final game against Hungary. Martínez, in turn, spared starters in the Nations League to prioritize the qualifiers.

Rival clash history

Portugal dominates recent duels, with five unbeaten games: four wins and one draw. The last one, in October 2025, ended 1-0 in Lisbon, with a late goal from Ronaldo.

In 2021, in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, Portugal won 2-1 away and drew 0-0 at the Aviva Stadium, where Ronaldo wasted chances. The 2014 friendly match ended 5-1 for the Portuguese.

Ireland have never beaten Portugal since 1968, but have scored in three of their last five games. These patterns suggest lean scores, averaging 2.4 goals per match.

The retrospect reinforces the pressure on Hallgrímsson, who is looking for his first triumph against a top 10 power since 2018.

Where to watch live in Brazil

The transmission takes place on the SporTV channel, with narration starting at 4 pm, Brasília local time. Fans can access streaming via Globoplay, available to subscribers.

Other options include the official UEFA website for highlights, but SporTV covers the full game, including pre- and post-match tactical analysis. Abroad, RTÉ2 in Ireland and Sport TV in Portugal show it.

For the Brazilian public, the signal starts 30 minutes before the starting whistle, with a focus on escalation.ions and heating. The match is part of the channel’s weekly coverage of European qualifiers.

SporTV+ subscribers have on-demand access after the end, facilitating reviews of controversial bids.

Expectations for kickoff

The game starts at 7:45 pm local time in Dublin, equivalent to 4:45 pm in Brasília, under mild conditions of 12 degrees Celsius and no rain forecast. Referee Nyberg, with experience in 20 qualifying games, applies strict rules for tactical fouls.

Irish fans fill the stadium, creating an intense atmosphere, while 5,000 Portuguese fans travel to support Ronaldo in his hunt for more records. The ball rolls punctually, with the national anthem echoing in the Aviva.

Statistics indicate Portuguese possession at around 60%, with Ireland betting on eight average corners per game. The first half can set the pace, with quick transitions from the home team testing the Portuguese defense.