Portugal faces Mexico on Saturday in a friendly preparing for the 2026 World Cup, marking the reopening of the iconic Estadio Azteca. The Portuguese squad arrives with some key absences but also new faces and returning players.
For this final training camp before the World Cup, Portugal travels to Mexico City without captain Cristiano Ronaldo, vice-captain Bernardo Silva, goalkeeper Diogo Costa, and defender Rúben Dias.
Roberto Martínez called up Mateus Fernandes, West Ham midfielder making his first senior team call-up, and welcomed back Ricardo Horta, Gonçalo Guedes, Samu Costa, and Tomás Araújo. Injuries to Rodrigo Mora, Rafael Leão, and Diogo Costa led to adjustments, finalizing a 26-player squad with goalkeeper Ricardo Velho and forward Paulinho included.
The match against Mexico, one of the 2026 World Cup hosts, serves as an experimental opportunity for several players to impress Martínez, though the final squad for May seems nearly settled. João Neves and Pedro Gonçalves are likely to be rested ahead of the next friendly against the United States on March 31 in Atlanta.
Read more about this topic: World Cup 2026: Portugal trains for the first time with Paulinho
This will be Portugal’s first match against Mexico at the Estadio Azteca, which reopens with a reduced capacity of nearly 90,000 spectators (down from 120,000 previously) and at an altitude of 2,240 meters, testing the team physically and tactically.
Mexico is led by veteran coach Javier Aguirre, 67, in his third stint as head coach, with extensive experience, including managing Atlético Madrid between 2006 and 2009. The Mexican squad lacks standout new talent, with Raúl Jiménez (Fulham) and Edson Álvarez (Fenerbahçe) as its key players, alongside 40-year-old goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, aiming for his sixth World Cup appearance.
In the 2026 World Cup (June 11–July 19, USA, Canada, and Mexico), Portugal is in Group K with Uzbekistan, Colombia, and a team yet to be determined via the intercontinental play-off between DR Congo, Jamaica, and New Caledonia.
