Mauro Eustáquio: “Toronto is mad, Portugal will feel at home” | OneFootball

It is this Thursday that Portugal begins its journey in the knockout stage of the 2026 World Cup. Against Croatia, the national team will look to keep alive the dream of reaching the final of the competition, in a match that will take place in Toronto.

Although the game is scheduled for after midnight in mainland Portugal (00:00), the reality is quite different in Canada. In the city of Toronto, the clash between Portuguese and Croatians will be played in the early evening, at 7 p.m. local time, and the Portuguese community is eagerly awaiting the chance to support the national colours.

Mauro Eustáquio, a Portuguese coach who has been based in Toronto for several years, explained exclusively to Desporto ao Minuto how the Portuguese community in the Canadian city has been experiencing the hours leading up to the match.

“The city is going crazy. I’m connected with the Portuguese community. Football means a lot to us. There has been a huge movement. The community is more united than ever and I think it will be a fortress for the national team to feel that support,” began the coach, predicting that the national team will feel as though it is playing at home.

“The national team will not be able to complain about a lack of support. In fact, I think the national team will be playing at home. There is a huge movement from the Portuguese community behind this game and the stadium will be full. But not only the stadium, everything around the venue will have a lot of Portuguese people. They will feel the strength. A lot had been planned for the national team to feel the support upon arrival. If in Miami we thought Colombia were playing at home, Portugal will feel that here,” said the 33-year-old coach, without hiding the pride of the Portuguese community in Toronto at being able to watch a Portugal national team match live.

“The players will feel an atmosphere of pride. That is what I have been feeling lately. The World Cup here in Toronto, and also across Canada, has stirred football culture. But the truth is that Portuguese people are proud and I think that is what the players will feel in the stadium. They will feel people proud to be Portuguese and behind the team. We will have a stadium that will support the cause and the national team one hundred percent in this next match,” stressed Mauro Eustáquio, manager of Inter Toronto.

His brother’s performances for Canada and a possible semi-final… with Portugal

Mauro Eustáquio’s heart at this 2026 World Cup is divided. While, on the one hand, he supports the national team of the country where he was born, on the other, the Portuguese coach has his brother Stephen playing for Canada. The FC Porto midfielder has been one of Canada’s standout performers in the tournament, after they had already played in the round of 32 and eliminated South Africa.

“Canada have been a surprise. They have already achieved something historic. Canada have not had easy appearances at the World Cup, but the truth is that, at this moment, they have already gone through. Stephen has been having a good World Cup, he has benefited a lot from the matches and has shown a good level. He also prepared for this. We know the professional sacrifices he made when he left FC Porto to move to MLS and get minutes. That gave him confidence and physical experience,” analysed the coach, before looking ahead to the round of 16 match with Morocco.

“It is going to be a difficult game. We already came up against Morocco in Qatar, they are very competitive, quick and aggressive, both defensively and offensively. They have world-class players. Canada have already reached a very positive stage, but they do not want to stop here. I think that, with the unity that group has and also the way they play, it will be a balanced match. If Canada are having a good day, they can go through to the next round,” stressed the 33-year-old coach.

If Canada reach the semi-finals of this 2026 World Cup, the opponent could be… Portugal. Mauro Eustáquio admits his heart would be divided.

“That semi-final with Portugal is something I have already been asked about a lot and it is something that really could happen. It would be a very special game for me because I have an emotional connection to both countries, and also because of the situation of having my brother playing for Canada,” he concluded.

The match between Portugal and Croatia is scheduled for Thursday at 7 p.m. local time (00:00 on Friday in mainland Portugal), at Toronto Stadium in Canada, with Norwegian referee Espen Eskas in charge.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.