Portugal XI vs Mexico – Predicted lineup and team news

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·28 Maret 2026

Portugal XI vs Mexico – Predicted lineup and team news

Portugal take on Mexico in a World Cup warm-up friendly on Saturday as both teams continue their build-up to the 2026 tournament.

Portugal booked their place at the World Cup by topping their qualifying group, collecting 13 points from six matches, and capped the campaign with a stunning 9-1 win over Armenia in their final game. That emphatic victory underlined their attacking firepower and confidence going into this international window.

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Portugal team news

Roberto Martinez will be without a host of big names for this camp. Cristiano Ronaldo misses out due to a hamstring problem picked up with Al-Nassr, and he is joined on the sidelines by goalkeeper Diogo Costa, Rafael Leao and Rodrigo Mora, while Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias, Joao Palhinha and Nelson Semedo have also been left out.

To compensate, Martinez has refreshed the squad with a mix of experience and new faces. Toluca veteran Paulinho, now 33, returns to the national team after a five-year absence, while West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes earns his first senior call-up. Goncalo Guedes is also back in the fold to add depth in the final third.

There are still a few fitness questions in midfield, with Joao Neves and Pedro Goncalves having trained away from the main group before the trip, but Ruben Neves is expected to sit at the base of midfield as the main pivot.

With first-choice keeper Costa unavailable, Rui Silva is in line to start in goal, and Tomas Araujo is tipped to partner Goncalo Inacio at centre-back, flanked by the energetic full-backs Joao Cancelo and Nuno Mendes.

Despite the absences, Martinez can still field a strong attacking unit. Bruno Fernandes is likely to operate as the central playmaker in the No. 10 role, with Pedro Neto and Francisco Conceiaoo providing width from the flanks.