Portugal’s 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign is set to begin under the shadow of a major decision that could reshape the national team beyond this summer. Roberto Martinez will not continue as Portugal manager after the tournament, with the Spaniard having decided against renewing the contract that expires at the end of July. His departure will close a three-and-a-half-year spell in charge and raises an equally significant question about the future of Cristiano Ronaldo, who is widely expected to be playing in his final World Cup at the age of 41. As Portugal prepare to face DR Congo in Houston on June 17 before further Group K fixtures against Uzbekistan on June 23 and Colombia on June 27, the tournament could mark the end of one era and the beginning of another.
Martinez’s decision signals the end of a successful cycle
According to talkSPORT, Martinez has informed Portuguese football authorities that he will not renew his contract when it expires following the World Cup. The decision appears to have been made in conjunction with the Portuguese Football Federation, allowing preparations for a successor to begin quietly before the tournament reaches its conclusion. Explaining the situation, talkSPORT correspondent Alex Crook said: “I am told it it is his decision not to renew his contract with Martinez looking to return to club management either in the Premier League or a top European side, or potentially, take over one of the other big European nations.” Crook added: “We’ve not heard anything publicly about it, but no doubt, he will be asked about it the next time he faces the media. But the decision has been made in conjunction with the Portuguese FA, so they can start looking for a potential successor.” Martinez has overseen one of the most productive periods in Portugal’s recent history. The nation entered his tenure already carrying the achievements of the Euro 2016 title and the inaugural UEFA Nations League triumph in 2019. Under his leadership, Portugal added a second Nations League crown in 2025 and maintained a consistently high level of performance.
Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez, center, arrives for the World Cup Soccer tournament, Friday, June 12, 2026, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
The former Everton and Wigan Athletic manager also owns a 70 per cent win rate with Portugal, the highest of any coach in the country’s history, while becoming the fastest manager to oversee 100 goals scored by the national team. Although Portugal exited Euro 2024 in the quarter-finals after a penalty shootout defeat to France, Martinez quickly responded by guiding the team to Nations League success against Spain the following year. His World Cup record remains mixed. Martinez led Belgium to a third-place finish in 2018 before suffering a shock group-stage elimination in Qatar four years later.
Portugal insist full focus remains on the World Cup
Reports surrounding Martinez’s future have grown louder during the build-up to Portugal’s opener, but the federation has attempted to keep attention on the tournament itself. Responding to speculation, a spokesperson for the Portuguese Football Federation told the Press Association: “The FPF and Roberto Martinez are focused exclusively on the World Cup. The federation and the coach are aligned on this matter, as they have publicly stated.” The Press Association also reported that Martinez and the federation have agreed that any formal discussions regarding his future will wait until after the finals. Martinez took charge in January 2023 following his departure from Belgium and is understood to be considering a return to club football in England or elsewhere in Europe, while another international position also remains a possibility.
Ronaldo’s final World Cup?
While Martinez’s departure has become a major talking point, much of the attention inevitably returns to Ronaldo. The Portugal captain is competing in his sixth World Cup and has repeatedly suggested that this tournament is likely to be his last appearance on football’s biggest stage. The World Cup remains the only major trophy absent from a career that already includes European Championship success, Nations League titles, five Ballons d’Or and countless domestic honours.
Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo walks to the becnh after he was substituted during an international friendly soccer match between Portugal and Nigeria in Leiria, Portugal, Wednesday, June 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Ana Brigida)
Bruno Fernandes acknowledged the significance of sharing the stage with Ronaldo once again, particularly with the captain preparing for what is widely expected to be his final World Cup appearance. “We’ve all grown up watching Cristiano Ronaldo play and for us it’s such an honor to play next to him now in the same team,” Fernandes said at a press conference ahead of Portugal’s World Cup opener against DR Congo. “I think he’s also anxious because at the end of the day he’s also representing his national team and we know how passionate he is when he plays for Portugal. We’re all here to support him and to support Portugal to go as far as possible.”
Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo warms up during the men’s national soccer team training session ahead of their FIFA World Cup soccer tournament Saturday, June 13, 2026, in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
That sense of Ronaldo’s enduring influence extended beyond the dressing room and into Martinez’s own assessment of the player, with the Portugal coach stressing that the 41-year-old remains one of the most important figures in the squad despite entering his sixth World Cup. “He’s a role model,” Martinez said. “He’s an iconic player in global football for young athletes, children male and female, who start feeling the love for football when playing on the street, and that is wonderful for us. It is his sixth World Cup but internally it feels like his first World Cup when it comes to his intensity, emotions and ability to lead the group.” “Within the team he is a vital player because he is the finisher, he is the player in the penalty area, he is the player who has those movements that can open spaces for other players. Within our attacking game, his numbers reflect the importance he has.” Whether Ronaldo chooses to continue beyond the tournament remains unknown. What is clear is that Martinez will leave regardless of Portugal’s performance in North America. For a squad featuring Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes and Vitinha, the coming weeks offer an opportunity to achieve something no Portugal manager has managed before: winning the FIFA World Cup. If that ambition is realised, Martinez would depart with the greatest achievement in Portuguese football history, while Ronaldo would finally claim the one prize that has eluded him throughout an extraordinary international career.
