The Portugal national team has begun its international break with a training session scheduled for 5pm at the Portuguese Football Federation's training centre in Oeiras. The session, incorporating gym, pool, and pitch work, kicks off preparations for the next competitive fixture, a World Cup 2026 qualifier against Wales on September 24. Currently second in their qualifying group with five points from three matches, Portugal sits two points behind leaders Colombia and aims to bounce back from a 1-0 defeat to Spain in their last outing.
Double duty in Oeiras
The day features a dual focus for the squad. After reporting for duty by 3pm and completing training, the entire group will attend the Portugal Football Globes awards ceremony at the FPF Arena Portugal in Oeiras, starting at 7:30pm. The event, organised by the Federation, honours the best in Portuguese football, including futsal and beach soccer, and will see the full senior and under-21 national teams in attendance. The under-21 side, which also trains at 5pm, joins the senior players for this celebration of the national game.
This international window, which causes a break in most club competitions, is being used by the manager to fine-tune his squad. The recent run of form, with two wins, two draws, and one loss in the last five matches, demonstrates a resilient team that has scored six goals and conceded just one in the qualifying campaign. All attention is now on Saturday's match, which could prove key in the group standings. Fans can follow the team's full schedule on the fixtures page and check the current squad list for this window. The objective is straightforward: secure a home victory to maintain pressure on Colombia in the race for World Cup qualification.
This story first appeared at CNN Portugal
