Venue: Estádio José Alvalade
Local Kick-off Time: Sep 24, 2026 7.45pm
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Click here to watch the match LIVE now! 🔴 ▶
Portugal
A New Era Under Jorge Jesus
Portugal have officially turned the page following the departure of Roberto Martinez after the 2026 World Cup, with veteran tactician Jorge Jesus taking the helm on July 10. The Seleção das Quinas were eliminated in the round of 16 of the World Cup by eventual champions Spain; that narrow 1-0 defeat marked the national team's first loss since November 2025.
Jesus inherits a squad with impeccable pedigree in this competition. Portugal lifted the inaugural Nations League trophy in 2018-19 by defeating the Netherlands 1-0 in the final, before capturing their second title with a dramatic penalty-shootout triumph over Spain in the 2024-25 decider. Drawn in Group 4 alongside Wales, Denmark, and Norway, Portugal aim for a top-two finish to secure quarter-final qualification. Following this fixture, Jesus’ side travel to face Norway in their final match of September, ahead of October clashes against Denmark (A) and Norway (H).
Team News & Projected Setup
Despite intense speculation surrounding his international future after the World Cup exit, 41-year-old talisman Cristiano Ronaldo was named in Jesus' inaugural squad and is poised to lead the line from the opening whistle as he seeks to add to his extraordinary tally of 146 international goals.
The hosts are expected to deploy a formidable and familiar spine:
Goalkeeper: Diogo Costa is set to retain his starting berth between the posts.
Midfield Engine: A technically dominant midfield trio of Vitinha, Joao Neves, and Bruno Fernandes will orchestrate the tempo and distribution behind the frontline.
Wales
Return to the Top Tier & Recent Form
Wales enter the campaign looking to steady themselves after missing out on the 2026 World Cup, having suffered a heartbreaking defeat to Bosnia-Herzegovina in the playoff semi-finals back in March. Craig Bellamy's men have since contested three friendlies with mixed fortunes, drawing against Northern Ireland and Ghana before succumbing to a 2-1 loss against Romania last time out.
The Dragons secured promotion back to League A during the 2024-25 campaign and hold a balanced historic Nations League record of 10 wins, five draws, and seven defeats across 22 fixtures. Following their trip to Portugal, Wales travel to Denmark on September 27 before back-to-back home encounters with Norway and Denmark in early October.
Head-to-Head & Squad Depletion
The sides have met four times historically, with Wales' sole victory dating back to a friendly in May 1951. Their only previous competitive showdown came in the semi-finals of Euro 2016, when quickfire second-half goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani propelled Portugal to a 2-0 victory.
Bellamy's preparation has been severely disrupted by injuries:
Key Absentees: The Welsh camp suffered a triple withdrawal as Harry Wilson, Nathan Broadhead, and goalkeeper Karl Darlow were forced to pull out. They join Joe Rodon, Dylan Lawlor, Rubin Colwill, and Isaak Davies on the sidelines.
Replacements Called Up: Leicester City goalkeeper David Cornell, Huddersfield Town forward Joe Taylor, and Reading midfielder Charlie Savage have been drafted into the squad.
Attacking Outlook: The Dragons will rely heavily on transition speed, with Daniel James, David Brooks, and Brennan Johnson expected to form the attacking trident, and James potentially deployed through the middle as a mobile focal point.
