Among the teams being tipped for FIFA World Cup 2026 glory, only one has yet to lift the trophy: Portugal. According to Bruno Fernandes, a key figure in Roberto Martinez’s midfield, that could well change this year.
“The dream is to be world champions,” he told FIFA in an in-depth interview. “The key is to focus on what we can do to change the fact that Portugal have never won it and become the first side to bring the coveted World Cup back home.”
The Manchester United maestro has good reason to be optimistic, as this Portuguese squad is built around a generation already regarded as one of the finest in the nation’s history. In 2025, they defeated European champions Spain to clinch the UEFA Nations League title, a significant achievement that also raised expectations.
“We feel good about that,” he explained. “It’s positive for us and it shows there’s confidence in our overall quality and in the calibre of the players representing Portugal right now. We know that we’re a very strong group. We genuinely believe we can have a great World Cup.”Fernandes’ calmness in the face of pressure is also explained by the rich vein of form of several key players. Nuno Mendes, Joao Neves and Vitinha are regular starters for a swashbuckling Paris Saint-Germain side that have claimed the last two editions of the UEFA Champions League, while Pedro Neto shone for Chelsea, Rafael Leao impressed for AC Milan, and Bernardo Silva bade farewell to Manchester City after yet another mesmerising campaign.
“It fills me with confidence when I look around and see an incredible team willing to do whatever it takes at any moment,” said the midfield ace, who has scored 28 goals in 87 appearances for the Seleção das Quinas. “It’s not about helping me, but helping everyone reach our final objective.”
