The grand theatre of international football awaits its next epic, and beneath the bright lights and sprawling venues of North America, one narrative commands global attention: Cristiano Ronaldo’s pursuit of destiny. As the 2026 FIFA World Cup expands to an unprecedented 48 nations, one of the planet's greatest icons prepares for his final act. It's an act loaded with pressure, one last dance, and the inescapable shadow of rival Lionel Messi’s coronation with Argentina in Qatar.
But CR7 doesn’t enter this qualification gauntlet as a mere sentimental favorite. Instead, he arrives as a major player once again, despite his now being 40 years of age. Portugal’s 2025 UEFA Nations League run reignited belief, with Ronaldo leading from the front in the final against Spain, helping his side to a penalty shootout victory. Under Roberto Martínez, the Portuguese have come under criticism, but it seems they could well be peaking at the perfect opportunity to make an all-out assault on MetLife Stadium next July.
There are plenty of reasons to be excited for next summer's showdown, and not just for the great Ronaldo. For fans, the Lucky Rebel website will have launched and be in full flow, bringing its users closer to the beautiful game than ever before, throughout the six-week spectacle. But while that particular outlet deserves plenty of hype, as does the World Cup outright, CR7 and Portugal need to qualify first to ensure that they are featured.
So, who will the Navegadores be facing on the road to North America? Let's take a look.
Hungary
Let’s begin with the group’s biggest test. Underpinned by tactical discipline and a growing sense of purpose, Hungary stands as the chief obstacle to Portugal’s passage. Yet if the record books offer any insight, the Portuguese have turned Hungarian resistance into a recurring pageant of dominance.
The Euro 2016 showdown between these sides remains seared into recent memory. Down and nearly out, Portugal were rescued not by luck, but by the force of Ronaldo’s will: an extraordinary flicked finish, followed by a thunderous equalizer, powered a 3-3 draw in Lyon and launched the Navegadores toward ultimate European glory. Ronaldo has scored six times against them in his career, with goals in high-stakes contests including back-to-back European championships.
But this is a new Hungary—one bolstered by Willi Orbán’s rock-solid defending, Dominik Szoboszlai’s flair, and a tactical elasticity that has made them dangerous for even Europe’s elite. Their 2021 Euros group-stage run, in which they rattled France and Germany, proved they are no longer content to play spoiler. It will be 40 long years next summer since the Magyars last graced the World Cup stage, and they will be determined to bring that drought to an end, even at the great Ronaldo's expense.
Republic of Ireland
The Republic of Ireland has often forced Portugal—and Ronaldo in particular—to search for heroics in the dying embers of matches. Back in September 2021, the Boys in Green dared to believe they could stun Portugal in Faro, and they very nearly did it as John Egan struck on the stroke of half-time. What followed was pure Ronaldo brilliance: two goals, both in stoppage time—the first a classic leap and header, the second a poacher’s finish—delivered a 2-1 comeback win and propelled him past Ali Daei as the highest-scoring international men’s player in history.
But Ireland’s threat is more than history. Under manager Stephen Kenny, the Republic has injected fresh blood. Their deep-lying defensive posture, wing-back surges, and clever in-game management have frustrated Portugal before—including a 0-0 stalemate in Dublin during the same 2022 World Cup qualifying cycle. In Chiedozie Ogbene, they have a genuine attacking outlet that can beat any defender on his day, and he will be aiming to do the same to the Portuguese when they lock horns in October and November.
Armenia
If numbers dictated everything, Armenia would register as nothing more than group-stage formalities. But football history cautions against such arrogance, and for Ronaldo himself, Armenia evokes a mixture of triumph and warning.
The stats paint a comfortable picture: Portugal has never lost to Armenia, with the aggregate scoreline featuring emphatic wins and a litany of goals from the captain. Chief among them stands his Yerevan masterclass in 2015, a hat-trick topped by an audacious 30-yard free kick. He has scored five times against the Armenians, thriving on the open spaces left by a nation eager to play expansive football despite their unheralded standing in the international game.
Yet, ambitious underdogs thrive on nights where giants are careless. Recent Armenian squads, inspired by the likes of Eduard Spertsyan and Tigran Barseghyan, have summoned moments of attacking brilliance—nicking late results against stronger nations. They thumped Wales 4-2 in qualifying for Euro 2024, and that will have made Portugal’s coaching staff well aware: underestimate Armenia, and a campaign’s momentum can be destroyed in an instant.