Barcelona wing-back João Cancelo has positioned the Portuguese national team as a primary contender to secure the 2026 FIFA World Cup trophy. The 31-year-old former Manchester City defender emphasized that the presence of legendary forward Cristiano Ronaldo remains a decisive factor in the team’s ability to achieve global dominance during the upcoming tournament in North America.
The “Seleção das Quinas” find themselves situated in Group K, where they are scheduled to navigate fixtures against Colombia and Uzbekistan. Despite the challenges of the group stage, Cancelo believes the sheer depth of talent within the Portuguese roster justifies their status as a tournament frontrunner. These comments follow a scoreless stalemate against Mexico in an international friendly this past Sunday, a result that has not dampened the veteran’s optimism regarding their competitive ceiling.
Portugal’s preparations continue this week as they travel to face the United States in another high-profile exhibition match on Wednesday. During a recent media appearance, Cancelo was unequivocal about his nation’s aspirations and the impact of their captain.
“We should be among the top favourites to win the World Cup 2026 with the quality of players we have.
“Cristiano Ronaldo as well? Of course, yes,” he said.
About the Author
