In this guide
Group K and the three Portugal fixturesThe Colombia game decides the groupRonaldo and the squad Martinez namedIf Portugal go throughEntry, Fan ID and buying ticketsPortugal arrives at the 2026 World Cup as reigning Nations League champions with a squad that finally looks deeper than one man. Group K gives them Colombia, DR Congo and Uzbekistan, two of the three games in the same Houston stadium. This World Cup 2026 Portugal guide covers the group, the fixtures, the squad Martinez named on 19 May and how to buy tickets, with Ronaldo at 41 heading to what is almost certainly his last finals.
The schedule is compact: DR Congo on 17 June, Uzbekistan on 23 June, then Colombia in Miami on 27 June, all inside 11 days. Live inventory for each game is open now, so you can compare seats and prices early.
Group K and the three Portugal fixtures
As a Pot 1 seed, Portugal could not draw Spain, France or England until the later rounds. Of the three opponents, only Colombia have the squad to threaten top spot, built around Luis Diaz and a strong CONMEBOL qualifying run. Uzbekistan is making its World Cup debut, while the opener has its own pull: this is DR Congo's first World Cup since 1974, when they played as Zaire, a 52-year wait.
| Date | Match | Venue | Kick-off (Lisbon) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed 17 June 2026 | Portugal v DR Congo | Houston Stadium, Texas | 6:00 pm (noon CT) |
| Tue 23 June 2026 | Portugal v Uzbekistan | Houston Stadium, Texas | 6:00 pm (noon CT) |
| Sat 27 June 2026 | Colombia v Portugal | Miami Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida | 12:30 am Sun (7:30 pm ET Sat) |
NRG Stadium and Hard Rock Stadium appear on tickets as Houston Stadium and Miami Stadium; Miami is the smaller of the two. Both Houston games kick off at noon, with late-June temperatures of 32 to 36 degrees; the closed, air-conditioned roof leaves the outdoor queues as the uncomfortable part. The DR Congo opener and the Uzbekistan game sit well below the Colombia closer on current demand.
The Colombia game decides the group
The 27 June meeting with Colombia in Miami settles Group K and is the hardest ticket of the three. Colombia bring the strongest travelling support of the four, Miami's large South American population adds local demand, and the Saturday evening slot pulls in neutrals. Win or draw it, and Portugal almost certainly finish top; lose and second place brings a tougher knockout draw.
Ronaldo and the squad Martinez named
Roberto Martinez named his squad on 19 May, and the headline is that Ronaldo is in for a sixth World Cup. Mateus Fernandes and Joao Palhinha were the notable omissions. Around Ronaldo, Martinez has Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Vitinha and Joao Neves through midfield, Ruben Dias and Nuno Mendes in defence, Diogo Costa in goal and a front line of Rafael Leao, Pedro Neto, Joao Felix and Goncalo Ramos. Portugal won the 2024-25 Nations League last June, beating Spain on penalties.
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If Portugal go through
Win Group K and Portugal play one of the third-placed qualifiers in Kansas City on 3 July, the easier route on paper. Finish second, and they drop into Toronto on 2 July against the Group L runner-up, the section led by England, with Croatia, Ghana and Panama. Knockout tickets go on sale once the group finishes, so booking one game at a time is the safer play.
Entry, Fan ID and buying tickets
Portugal sits in the US Visa Waiver Program, so Portuguese passport holders travel on an ESTA approved online, usually within 72 hours. There is no separate stadium Fan ID scheme of the sort some past tournaments ran, though entry is fully digital; our guide to whether a Fan ID applies at World Cup 2026 covers it. A few essentials before you travel:
- Apply for ESTA at least 72 hours before you fly and carry the confirmation with your passport.
- Both venues are cashless, so bring a fee-free Visa, Mastercard or mobile wallet; MB Way will not work at US tills.
- Tickets are mobile only, so a screenshot will not get you through the gate.
The tournament's own last-minute sales opened on 1 April and its resale platform on 2 April, both uncapped on price. As a regulated secondary marketplace, 1BoxOffice lists every Portugal group game with its 150% money-back guarantee if a ticket fails to grant entry. The Colombian closer is the one to sort early.
Portugal's group is a two-city run, Houston, then Miami. 1BoxOffice carries seat-level inventory for all three games under its 150% money-back guarantee.
1. Will Cristiano Ronaldo play at the 2026 World Cup, and is it his last?
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Yes, Martinez named the 41-year-old on 19 May 2026, and with a seventh tournament in 2030 putting him at 45, this is almost certainly his final World Cup.
2. What time do Portugal's group games kick off in the UK?
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Both Houston matches start at 6:00 pm UK time, and the Colombia game kicks off at 12:30 am UK time in the early hours of Sunday 28 June.
3. Could Portugal face England in the Round of 32?
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Only if Portugal finishes second in Group K, because the runner-up is scheduled to play the Group L runner-up, and England heads that group.
4. Where is the 2026 World Cup final being played?
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At MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on 19 July 2026.
5. Are screenshots of World Cup tickets accepted at the gate?
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No, tickets are issued digitally, and a screenshot will not scan, so buy only through the tournament's channels or a regulated marketplace.
Sources: FIFA, UEFA, ESPN, Sky Sports, FourFourTwo, Wikipedia and US Customs and Border Protection.
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