Portugal's national team was knocked out in the World Cup 2026 round of 16 and, according to former coach António Oliveira, should already start the project for World Cup 2030. The 1‑0 loss to Spain, decided in the 90+1 minute, sparked the call for a Portuguese manager to lead the rebuild.

Why a Portuguese manager?

Oliveira argues the choice isn’t just about nationality but about deep understanding of Portugal's football culture and the squad’s identity. “We need someone who knows what it means to represent Portugal,” he told Lusa. He believes a local coach can better balance the collective over the individual, a balance missing in 2026.

What were the main shortcomings?

The former boss highlighted the lack of a consistent attacking identity. Despite having one of the most talented recent generations, Portugal failed to turn individual quality into regular scoring chances. The defeat to Spain also exposed a “loss of focus” in the final minutes, when the conceding goal came in stoppage time.

How will the build‑up to 2030 look?

Oliveira suggests using the Nations League and the European Championship as testing grounds to forge a stronger, more united side. He stresses the need for a more creative, aggressive style in the final third. The goal is for Portugal to arrive in 2030 as a genuine title contender.

What’s the team’s current form?

In the last five matches, Portugal posted 3 wins and 2 draws, riding a two‑game winning streak. The most recent result was Portugal 2‑1 Croatia (2026‑07‑02), indicating a positive turn. The next fixture is a home game against Wales on 24 September 2026, a crucial benchmark before the next qualification phase.

And yet, the road ahead demands more than isolated wins. Oliveira insists that the collective spirit must dominate every training session, ensuring that the squad can turn talent into trophies by 2030.