Ronaldo’s Outlook on Portugal’s 2026 World Cup Bid
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo, aged 41 and preparing for a record‑sixth World Cup appearance, said he feels physically ready and optimistic as the squad left Lisbon for their base camp in Palm Beach, Florida.
“We’re approaching this competition with a lot of hope,” Ronaldo stated. “The preparation has been very good, tiring, because we have worked hard.” He added that he is “physically good” and believes the team will deliver a strong performance.
The veteran forward also praised the current generation of players, describing it as one of Portugal’s strongest and saying it will bring joy to the nation.
Portugal opens its 2026 World Cup campaign on June 17 in Houston against the Democratic Republic of the Congo, followed by matches against Uzbekistan and Colombia in Group K. Ronaldo stressed the importance of starting well and taking each game step by step.
While some observers question whether Ronaldo’s continued presence might limit opportunities for younger attackers, Portugal’s best World Cup finish remains third place in 1966, with a quarter‑final run in 2022.
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