Portugal may be among the favourites heading into the FIFA World Cup 2026, but one statistic still stands out: they have never won football’s biggest prize.
For Bruno Fernandes, that history is exactly what this generation is determined to rewrite.
The Manchester United midfielder believes Roberto Martinez’s side has both the quality and belief to go all the way this time.
“The dream is to be world champions,” he told FIFA. “The key is to focus on what we can do to change the fact that Portugal have never won it and become the first side to bring the coveted World Cup back home.”
Portugal arrive at the tournament with one of their strongest squads in decades, backed by recent success on the international stage.
Their UEFA Nations League triumph over Spain in 2025 further strengthened belief inside the camp that something special could be building.
“We feel good about that,” Fernandes explained. “It’s positive for us and it shows there’s confidence in our overall quality and in the calibre of the players representing Portugal right now.
“We know that we’re a very strong group. We genuinely believe we can have a great World Cup.”
That confidence is reinforced by a wave of elite club form across Europe’s biggest teams.
Paris Saint-Germain stars Nuno Mendes, Joao Neves and Vitinha have all played key roles in Champions League success, while Pedro Neto has impressed at Chelsea and Rafael Leao continues to shine at AC Milan.
Bernardo Silva also arrives after another standout campaign before leaving Manchester City.
Fernandes, who has scored 28 goals in 87 appearances for Portugal, says the depth of talent only strengthens the team’s mindset rather than complicating it.
“It fills me with confidence when I look around and see an incredible team willing to do whatever it takes at any moment,” said the midfield ace.
“It’s not about helping me, but helping everyone reach our final objective.”
Beyond the talent on the pitch, Fernandes also highlighted the strong emotional bond between Portugal’s players and their supporters, insisting that national belief is a driving force.
“They have total belief in us. They believe we’ve got the quality to be the best team in the world, reach the World Cup final and be crowned champions,” the 31-year-old noted.
“I think we need to take the positives from that and channel it into energy. We have to understand that our people are by our side and genuinely believe in our national team.”
With momentum, talent and belief aligned, Portugal head into the tournament with one clear mission — to turn long-standing hope into history.
Toosin is a dedicated sports writer with a strong background in crafting engaging and insightful content. With experience at Goal, he has developed a sharp editorial sense and a refined storytelling approach that brings depth and perspective to sports journalism. His passion for the game goes beyond the headlines, as he captures both the excitement of the sport and the compelling human narratives behind each event. Toosin’s work resonates with a broad and diverse audience, making global sports stories accessible, relatable, and impactful.
