Well, it’s official, the World Cup is officially starting this month. In fact, it begins in a week’s time.
For the most part, it feels like the world is ready for the grandest spectacle in international football, and one of the most prestigious tournaments in the history of sport. With the tournament set to take place across the USA, Canada and Mexico, lucky fans will soon be jetting off in the hopes of watching their home nations make history, and, hopefully, enjoying plenty of exciting football action in the process.
While bookmakers have chosen their favourites, many were surprised to learn that Portugal weren’t up there amongst the clearcut frontrunners, like in previous tournaments. Despite this however, you should never count them out, especially when you consider the talent found in their first team. Surprisingly the best odds can be found at the big Irish football bookmakers, with QuinnBet and BOYLE Sports offering some pretty good value.
But realistically, do Roberto Martínez’s men have a chance? Let’s find out, as the bookmakers predict Portugal’s World Cup chances for the 2026 tournament.
Portugal’s World Cup odds
With players such as Bruno Fernandez, Diogo Costa, Rúben Dias, Rúben Neves, Bernando Silva and João Félix, it’s hard to imagine a team like Portugal not enjoying a great deal of success at the World Cup. Did we miss anybody? Oh yes, that’s right, there’s also arguably the greatest player to ever live (Messi and Ronaldo fans, feel free to argue amongst yourselves) in the form of Cristiano Ronaldo.
Roberto Martínez’s squad looked threatening during the qualification campaign, with Ronaldo himself proving instrumental, despite questions being raised over his commitment, his ego, his form and his place in the squad at the Euros back in 2024.
The thing to remember, though, is that this is a Portuguese national team, made up of some of the best players currently in football. They may not be firm favourites compared with the likes of Spain, France, and even England, but it would be ignorant to rule them out with such a quality lineup.
So, what do the bookies think? Can Portugal go all the way? Well, the odds are still favourable, and there’s the potential to make a very tidy profit in the process. BOYLE Sports for example, have Ronaldo and co at 10/1 odds to lift the trophy. QuinnBet have them at 11/1. Just to put that into context, France and Spain, who are the two favs, are typically at 9/2 and 5/1.
The greatest team never to win a World Cup?
Over the years, the amount of talent that Portugal has produced has been nothing short of extraordinary. Yes, of course you have CR7, but there are plenty of others who have gone down in history as some of the all-time greats. Think Eusébio, Luís Figo, Pepe, Deco, Rui Costa and Ricardo Carvalho, and you can see what we’re getting at.
The current squad has depth and strength in a variety of different positions. Up front Ronaldo is always desperate to net yet another goal, while Bernando Silva has proved that he can play at the same gold-standard level for his national side as he could for Manchester City under Pep Guardiola.
Bruno Fernandes has also done a lot of growing up in recent years, and now looks a more mature, reliable and threating player, capable of netting special goals in the process, and especially setting up others, as attested by his EPL assists record in the 2025/26 season.
So, with a squad of that quality, and with a list of ex-players of that quality, how on earth have Portugal never won the World Cup? Well, unfortunately, football can be a cruel game, and it has boiled down to complacency, bad luck and underperforming when it truly mattered. 2026 however, could go down in the history books.
Ronaldo’s last hurrah
Back in 2022, following Portugal’s exit from the tournament, there were questions raised about an inconsolable Cristiano Ronaldo’s future, not just at the World Cup, but for his national squad as a whole.
Many expected Euro 2024 to be his final tournament, yet here we are in 2026, with a 41-year-old Ronaldo set to appear for The Seleção for his sixth, and almost certainly, his final World Cup. As you might expect, he will be desperate to make history.
Ronaldo is no stranger to silverware with Portugal. He has lifted European Championship trophy with them back in 2016, along with two Nation’s League titles. In fact, he’s basically won everything there is to win in football. EPL titles, Champions League trophies, FA Cups, La Ligas, Ballon d’Ors, European Super Cups, Charity Shields, we could go on and on. The World Cup, however, is the one title that has evaded him and his home nation, and you best believe he’ll be desperate to change that.
Ronaldo is pushing 42 now, he has lost maybe half a step, and Father Time is slowly beginning to creep in. Despite this, he is still capable of brilliance, and he is still capable of leading his nation and scoring goals. Portugal have, on paper, a very forgiving group, having been drawn against Uzbekistan, DR Congo and Colombia.
Realistically, they should progress to the last 32. Ronaldo thrives against these types of teams and is still more than capable of scoring when it matters. The biggest headache for Martínez will be whether or not the team should play around Cristiano, or whether or not Cristiano is able to play around the team. This will almost certainly be Ronaldo’s final World Cup, and possibly his final stint playing for his nation. What a fairytale ending winning the greatest prize would be to a truly remarkable international career.
Supernatural predictions
While 10/1 and 11/1 odds aren’t exactly the most favourable for a footballing nation, Portugal could have a supernatural ace up their sleeves, from Brazil of all places.
Michael Bruno, a psychic medium from Brazil, made history in 2018 when he correctly predicted the winning teams of three World Cups on the bounce. That’s right, in 2010 he tipped Spain to win the trophy, followed by Germany in 2014, and France in 2018. In 2022 however, his powers must have had a bit of a wobble as he backed France to win. Remarkably, they reached the final, and narrowly lost out to Argentina on penalties, so he was almost 4 for 4.
So, what does this have to do with Portugal? Well, that’s because this year, he’s tipping them to lift the trophy, for the first time in the nation’s history. Spooky.
