This Tuesday, Seleção of Portugal released the list of players for Copa of Mundo in 2026. Coach Roberto Martínez included 27 names in the list, one more than the official limit allowed by Fifa. Goalkeeper Ricardo Velho appears as the additional athlete.
Fifa requires each team to register between 23 and 26 players for the tournament. The larger preliminary list serves as a security measure. Portugal chose to take four goalkeepers from the start of preparation.
Estratégia behind the extended list
The Portuguese technical committee plans to use Ricardo Velho as an emergency reserve. Ele travels with the delegation, but only enters the official list in case of injury to one of the three main goalkeepers before the debut or during the competition. The measure avoids logistical problems in a long tournament with games at different venues at Estados Unidos, México and Canadá.
Martínez commanded the announcement on Cidade from Futebol, on Portugal. Ele maintained the base of the team that beat Nations League in 2025. The coach avoided big surprises in most positions.
- Diogo Costa, from Porto, continues as first goalkeeper
- José Sá, from Wolverhampton, and Rui Silva, from Sporting, complete the main trio
- Ricardo Velho, from Gençlerbirligi, from Turquia, occupies the fourth spot
- Cristiano Ronaldo leads the charge in his sixth appearance on Copas
The complete list is divided between goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders and attackers. The relationship prioritizes experience in international competitions.
Principais names and absences noted
Cristiano Ronaldo joins the group and seeks the new title for Portugal. Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva and Vitinha form the creative core of the midfield. In defense, Rúben Dias and João Cancelo appear among those called up.
Alguns names were left out. António Silva and João Palhinha are not included in the list. The decision reflects the coach’s tactical options. Gonçalo Guedes and Samu Costa received a chance on the list.
The group travels with high confidence. Portugal is among the favorites for the title according to analysts. Preparation includes friendlies before the start of Mundial.
Detalhes delegation and Fifa rules
Football’s highest entity allows up to 26 official entrants. Equipes delivers larger preliminary list for internal use. Substituições due to goalkeeper injuries have specific rules during the tournament.
Portugal follows the path adopted by other teams. Levar the fourth goalkeeper reduces risks in case of physical problems. The strategy gains relevance with the tight schedule of Copa expanded to 48 teams.
The players will perform in the next few days. The focus now shifts to physical and tactical adaptation. Martínez leads intense training at the national team’s base.
Expectativas for performance on Mundial
The team has recent experience in tournaments. The victory at Nations League served as an important test. Ronaldo leads the group on and off the field.
The group draw has not yet defined the opponents. Portugal hopes to avoid strong selections in the early stages. Preparation aims to strike a balance between attack and defense.
Ricardo Velho trains with the main group. Ele represents the cast depth at the most sensitive position. The coaching staff monitors the conditioning of all athletes.