The FIFA World Cup 2026 has already begun, and fans will be excited to see if Portugal clinch their first-ever title.
But Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo feels that his side should focus on getting off to a good start and then look to finish first in the group.
“It is important to get off to a good start, do well in the first and second matches and then finish first in the group,” he told reporters in Portugal before the team`s departure.
“Then we go match by match, but not with the expectations of winning it all. It has to be step by step. A good start is the most important thing,” added the Madeira-born footballer.
This will be Ronaldo`s sixth World Cup, which is the most by any player, along with Argentina`s star footballer Lionel Messi.
The 41-year-old footballer also expressed confidence in his teammates by saying that this generation of players will make the countrymen happy.
“It`s a very good generation of players. But there are factors that we can`t control. Winning or losing, which is the most important thing, depends on many factors. But it`s a generation that will make the Portuguese people happy,” he said.
FIFA World Cup 2026, Portugal: First match`s date and venue
Portugal will kick off the campaign by playing a clash against Congo on June 17 at the Houston Stadium in Texas.
In the previous edition of the FIFA World Cup, Portugal reached the quarter-finals, but suffered a defeat by 0-1 against Morocco.
This will be the first edition in the tournament`s history, in which it will feature 48 teams competing across 104 total matches. Following the expansion, the group stage will consist of 12 groups of four teams each.
The top two teams from each group, along with the eight third-placed finishers, will progress to the round of 32.
The round of 32 will begin from June 29, followed by round of 16 from July 4. The tournament will reach the quarter-finals` stage on July 10, whereas the semi-finals are set to be played on July 15 and 16.
The third-place play-off match will be played on July 19.
The title clash of the FIFA World Cup 2026 is scheduled to be played on July 20 at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.
(With AP Inputs)
