Portugal’s World Cup Berth on the Line: Can Ronaldo & Co. Seal the Deal Against Armenia?

The road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup has been a rollercoaster for Portugal, and with the final qualifying match looming, the Seleção das Quinas finds themselves in a familiar, yet precarious, position. While they currently sit atop Group F, a direct ticket to North America is far from guaranteed. With just a two-point cushion over Hungary and a three-point lead on Ireland, Portugal must secure a win against Armenia this Sunday, November 16th, to avoid the nail-biting uncertainty of the playoffs.

This isn’t the dominant qualifying campaign many expected from a squad boasting global superstars like Cristiano Ronaldo, alongside PSG talents Vitinha and Gonçalo Ramos, and Wolverhampton Wanderers’ joão Neves. After a resounding 5-0 victory against Armenia earlier in the group stage – a scoreline that echoed Portugal’s past dominance on the international stage – the team’s momentum has faltered. Recent draws against Hungary (2-2) and a surprising 2-0 defeat to