Portugal Defeat Ireland 1-0 to Step Closer to 2026 World Cup

Portugal secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Ireland on Saturday evening at the José Alvalade Stadium.

The game was part of the third round of the European qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, set to take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. 

The match’s standout moment came in the 75th minute when Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo missed a penalty.

Just as the game seemed headed for a goalless draw, Saudi Al Hilal star Ruben Neves snatched a dramatic late goal for Portugal in the 91st minute.

He paid a warm tribute to his friend Diego Jota who passed away a few weeks ago.

With this win, Portugal tops Group F with 9 points, having won all three of their opening matches against Armenia, Hungary, and Ireland, pushing closer to qualification for the World Cup, which will feature 48 teams for the first time in history. 

Ireland, meanwhile, sits fourth in the group with just one point.