Portugal seal 2026 World Cup spot with 9–1 rout of Armenia
PORTO: Portugal booked their place at the 2026 World Cup in emphatic fashion on Sunday, dismantling Armenia 9–1 in a commanding display that featured hat-tricks from both Bruno Fernandes and Joao Neves.
After a surprise 2–0 defeat to Ireland earlier in the week — a match overshadowed by Cristiano Ronaldo’s red card — the reigning Nations League champions responded with authority, ensuring their qualification with a performance full of intent and precision.
Neves, who netted his first goals for Portugal, emphasised the collective effort behind the victory. “The most important thing was qualifying for the World Cup. For me, as I always say, the team always comes before the individual,” he told RTP after the match.
The resounding win not only secured Portugal’s automatic spot but also reaffirmed their status as one of Europe’s most formidable sides heading into the global showpiece.
