Although Portugal comfortably secured their place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 during the November international break, they still had a serious concern regarding Cristiano Ronaldo. The striker was shown a direct red card in the match against Ireland, creating a potential threat to his availability for next year’s tournament.
If he had received a suspension longer than one match, CR7 would have had no choice but to serve it during the group stage of the World Cup, as it is the next FIFA competition on the calendar.
However, he received excellent news on Tuesday: the final length of Ronaldo’s suspension was made public, and it will be just one match. That means he already served it during Portugal’s game against Armenia on November 16, clearing the striker to play from the opening match of the World Cup.
This is also a relief for head coach Roberto Martinez, as he can now plan the road to North America 2026 knowing he will be able to fully count on his biggest star, captain, and all-time leading scorer.
What’s next for Portugal ahead of World Cup 2026?
The start of the World Cup 2026 is getting closer. The next major milestone is the group-stage draw, which will take place on Friday, December 6, in Washington, D.C. There, Portugal will be one of the 12 top seeds thanks to their position at No. 6 in the FIFA Rankings.
Once their group-stage opponents are known, Portugal will have only two matches remaining before head coach Roberto Martinez must select his 26-player roster. The March international break will be the last window for testing and adjustments, as only two friendlies will remain in the days leading up to the World Cup—at which point every national team will already have finalized its squad.
* Developing story
