Portugal Squad Faces Key Absences and Notable Returns in Test Match
Portugal travels to Mexico on Saturday for a World Cup warm-up match. The game will mark the reopening of Estadio Azteca.
Squad changes and absences
Roberto Martínez named a 26-player group for the trip. Portugal Squad Faces Key Absences include Cristiano Ronaldo and Bernardo Silva.
Also missing are goalkeeper Diogo Costa and defender Rúben Dias. Injuries forced withdrawals by Rodrigo Mora and Rafael Leão earlier.
Reinforcements, debuts and opportunities
Martínez handed a first senior call-up to Mateus Fernandes. The midfielder arrived from West Ham seeking a debut.
Notable Returns in Test Match concern Ricardo Horta, Gonçalo Guedes, Samu Costa and Tomás Araújo. Ricardo Velho and Paulinho completed the 26-man list.
Playing time and squad management
João Neves and Pedro Gonçalves trained only lightly. They are likely to be rested against Mexico.
Mateus Fernandes is a strong candidate to see minutes at the Azteca. Ricardo Velho may wait for the friendly in Atlanta on March 31.
Match setting and challenges
This will be Portugal’s first game in the Azteca stadium. The stadium reopens with nearly 90,000 places available.
Portugal will also face the effects of 2,240 metres altitude. The venue once held about 120,000 spectators in earlier decades.
Mexico squad and coach
Mexico is coached by Javier Aguirre, now aged 67. This is his third spell in charge of the national team.
The Mexican group lacks a clear generational breakthrough. Key figures include Raúl Jiménez, aged 34, and Edson Álvarez of Fenerbahçe.
Veteran goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa is also selected. At 40, he still hopes to reach a sixth World Cup finals.
World Cup context and group draw
The 2026 World Cup runs from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Canada and Mexico. Portugal sits in Group K.
Group K contains Uzbekistan and Colombia. The fourth opponent will come from an intercontinental play-off involving DR Congo, Jamaica and New Caledonia.
Reporting for Filmogaz.com.
