The Portuguese national football team’s training session, as they prepare for their World Cup 2026 debut against the Democratic Republic of the Congo, was canceled on Sunday due to a severe storm in Palm Beach, United States.
Just under an hour before the scheduled start of midfielder Matheus Nunes’ press conference, media personnel were informed that they had to leave the press room and return to their vehicles. The facility at Gardens North County District Park lacked the necessary safety conditions to handle the severe weather.
By 18:00 local time (23:00 in Lisbon), journalists were notified that all media activities were called off and that the national team’s training session—with the squad already at the site—was in jeopardy due to heavy rain and lightning.
The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) later confirmed that the storm forced the complete cancellation of the outdoor session managed by head coach Roberto Martínez. Instead, the players completed their physical activation routines inside an indoor pavilion. The squad was forced to retreat to a secure area, fulfilling the alternative preparation protocols established for these types of weather emergencies.
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The training schedule for today has also undergone modifications to adapt to the climate. The national team will now train in the morning rather than late in the day, when weather conditions are forecast to worsen again. Consequently, a player will address the media at 09:45 local time (14:45 in Lisbon), followed by a training session at 10:30 (15:30 in Lisbon) with the first 15 minutes open to the press.
Portugal will compete in Group K and is scheduled to make its tournament debut on Wednesday against the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Houston, with kickoff set for 12:00 local time (18:00 in Lisbon).
The team will then face tournament debutants Uzbekistan on June 23, also in Houston at 12:00 local time (18:00 in Lisbon), before wrapping up the group stage against Colombia in Miami on June 27, with that match starting at 19:30 local time (00:30 on June 28 in Lisbon). The 2026 World Cup, which is the first edition in history to feature 48 teams, will run until July 19 across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
