Portugal coach Roberto Martinez has named a 27-man squad for the 2026 World Cup, with Cristiano Ronaldo set to become the first player to feature in six editions of the tournament. The 41-year-old Al Nassr forward will lead the reigning Nations League champions in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

In an emotional press conference, Martinez included a symbolic "plus one" in memory of Diogo Jota, the Liverpool forward who died in a car accident in July 2024 at age 28. "He is our strength, our joy. Losing Diogo was an unforgettable and very difficult moment, but the very next day, it was up to all of us to fight for Diogo's dream," Martinez said.

Portugal open Group K against DR Congo in Houston on June 17, face Uzbekistan at the same venue on June 23, and conclude against Colombia in Miami on June 27. The tournament runs from June 11 to July 19.

Martinez defended his decision to include four goalkeepers and five full-backs, citing tournament complexity, weather, and time zone challenges. "There are positions where we need to have more than two players per position. And we need five full-backs," he explained, highlighting versatility of Diogo Dalot, Joao Cancelo and Matheus Nunes.

Notable omissions include Mateus Fernandes, Ricardo Horta and Pedro Goncalves. Portugal will play friendlies against Chile on June 6 and Nigeria on June 10 before heading to their training camp in Palm Beach, Florida.

Source: www.aljazeera.com