In one of the most dominant displays in World Cup qualifying history, Portugal secured their ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup with an emphatic 9-1 victory over Armenia at the Estádio do Dragão in Porto on Sunday. The spectacular win ensured Portugal finished at the top of UEFA Group F and marked their seventh consecutive World Cup appearance.
Redemption After Shock Defeat
This remarkable performance came just days after Portugal suffered a surprising 2-0 defeat to the Republic of Ireland, a match that saw captain Cristiano Ronaldo receive a red card. Playing without their legendary talisman, Roberto Martinez's squad delivered a powerful response that silenced all critics and handed Ronaldo the opportunity to extend his record by appearing at a sixth World Cup next summer.
Hat-Trick Heroes Shine Bright
The match became a showcase for Bruno Fernandes and Joao Neves, who both scored remarkable hat-tricks in what turned out to be a dazzling team performance. Manchester United's Fernandes and Benfica's teenage sensation Neves dominated the headlines with their clinical finishing and creative play.
Defender Renato Veiga gave Portugal the perfect start with a seventh-minute header, but Armenia momentarily stunned the home crowd when Eduard Spertsyan equalised in the 18th minute. This was only Armenia's third goal throughout their entire qualifying campaign.
Any hopes of an Armenian upset vanished immediately after their equalizer. Gonçalo Ramos restored Portugal's lead, followed by Neves striking twice, including a spectacular free-kick that found the top corner. Fernandes then converted a penalty during first-half stoppage time, making the score 5-1 at halftime.
Complete Domination in Second Half
The second half showcased pure Portuguese domination. Fernandes completed his hat-trick with two more clinical finishes, including another spot-kick. Neves calmly added his third goal of the night, and substitute Francisco Conceição completed the scoring with a spectacular long-range drive during added time.
Portugal's World Cup Journey
Portugal's qualification for the 2026 World Cup extends their impressive streak to seven consecutive tournament appearances. Their World Cup history includes:
- 1966 – Third place
- 1986 – Group stage
- 2002 – Group stage
- 2006 – Fourth place
- 2010 – Round of 16
- 2014 – Group stage
- 2018 – Round of 16
- 2022 – Quarterfinals
With the expanded 48-team tournament awaiting in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, the Seleção will be confident about their chances of making a deep run, especially if Cristiano Ronaldo can roll back the years once more. For now, Roberto Martinez's team has sent a clear message to the rest of Europe: even without CR7, Portugal remains a terrifying attacking force that commands respect on the international stage.
