Have Portugal qualified for World Cup 2026? Latest results, past record at FIFA soccer tournament
Portugal’s history at the FIFA World Cup is surprisingly unimpressive, given their pedigree in international football and the star names to have worn the famous jersey.
Third place in 1966 is the best they have achieved to date, even during the Cristiano Ronaldo era that has seen them become champions of Europe and win the UEFA Nations League twice.
Ronaldo will hope for one final chance to win the famous trophy next year in the United States, Canada and Mexico, in an expanded 48-team tournament that will see 16 European sides in total take part.
Below, The Sporting News looks at Portugal’s state of play in qualifying and their past record at the world’s most famous soccer event.
MORE: How the World Cup draw works — and what to expect in December
Have Portugal qualified for World Cup 2026?
As of matchday nine of the UEFA qualifying section, not yet.
Portugal play the Republic of Ireland in Dublin on Thursday before completing their Group F qualifying campaign with a home fixture against Armenia in Porto on Sunday. A win against Ireland would seal their place in December’s draw with a game to spare.
MORE: All you need to know about how UEFA’s World Cup qualifying section works
Portugal World Cup qualifying results, fixtures
Portugal have two games left in Group F:
- Thursday, November 13: Republic of Ireland vs. Portugal
- Sunday, November 16: Portugal vs. Armenia
Portugal World Cup 2026 qualifying results
DateMatchVenueSeptember 6, 2025Armenia 0-5 PortugalVazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium (Yerevan, Armenia)September 9, 2025Hungary 2-3 PortugalPuskas Arena (Budapest, Hungary)October 11, 2025Portugal 1-0 Rep. of IrelandEstadio Jose Alvalade (Lisbon, Portugal)October 14, 2025Portugal 2-2 HungaryEstadio Jose Alvalade (Lisbon, Portugal)November 13, 2025Rep. of Ireland vs. PortugalAviva Stadium (Dublin, Ireland)November 16, 2025Portugal vs. ArmeniaEstadio do Dragao (Porto, Portugal)
Portugal World Cup record
Surprisingly for a team with so many modern-day stars, Portugal have only played at eight World Cups. Their best result was in 1966, when they finished in third place and Eusebio was the tournament’s top scorer with nine. That was one of just two tournaments at which they played from 1930 until 2002.
Since Japan and South Korea, the Selecao have played at every World Cup. The furthest they have progressed in that time was in 2006, when they reached the semifinals but were eliminated by France.
Portugal record at the World Cup
YearStage reachedHost nation1930Did not enterUruguay1934Did not qualifyItaly1938Did not qualifyFrance1950Did not qualifyBrazil1954Did not qualifySwitzerland1958Did not qualifySweden1962Did not qualifyChile1966Third placeEngland1970Did not qualifyMexico1974Did not qualifyWest Germany1978Did not qualifyArgentina1982Did not qualifySpain1986Group stageMexico1990Did not qualifyItaly1994Did not qualifyUnited States1998Did not qualifyFrance2002Group stageJapan and South Korea2006Fourth placeGermany2010Round of 16South Africa2014Group stageBrazil2018Round of 16Russia2022QuarterfinalsQatar
MORE: Revisiting the 1930 World Cup — the start of a sporting revolution
Portugal World Cup schedule
Should they qualify, Portugal’s schedule at the 2026 will not be known until the World Cup draw, when the six groups are decided and pathways to the final become clearer.
When is the World Cup draw?
The draw for the 2026 World Cup takes place in Washington, D.C. on Friday, December 5.
The ceremony is due to start at 12 p.m. local time (ET).
