Portugal need a result against Armenia on Sunday afternoon if they’re to guarantee their spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Roberto Martinez’s side are making a bit of a hash of qualifying. After a strong start that saw them record three-straight wins, Portugal have been held by Hungary and beaten by the Republic of Ireland in their previous two outings.
Thursday night was a special occasion for the Irish but a somber night for the 2016 European champions, who were thoroughly outfought by their hosts and had captain Cristiano Ronaldo sent off on the hour mark for an elbow on Dara O’Shea. It was the first dismissal of his storied international career.
Their defeat and Hungary’s 1–0 win over Armenia means the Iberians now boast just a two-point lead at the summit with one matchday remaining. Fortunately, they thumped their upcoming opponents 5–0 in the reverse fixture back in September, and should be expected to cruise again against a team that has won just one of their five qualifiers so far.
Here’s Sports Illustrated’s guide to the qualifier.
What Time Does Portugal vs. Armenia Kick-Off?
- Location: Porto, Portugal
- Stadium: Estádio do Dragão
- Date: Sunday, Nov. 16
- Kick-off Time: 9 a.m. ET / 6 a.m. PT / 2 p.m. GMT
- Referee: Irfan Peljto (BIH)
- VAR: Gianluca Aureliano (ITA)
Portugal vs. Armenia Head-to-Head Record (Last Five Games)
- Portugal: 4 wins
- Armenia: 0 wins
- Draws: 1
- Last meeting: Armenia 0–5 Portugal (Sept. 6, 2025)—2026 World Cup Qualifier
Current Form (All Competitions)
How to Watch Portugal vs. Armenia on TV
Portugal Team News
There will be changes in attack for the hosts, with the ubiquitous Ronaldo absent on Sunday due to his red card suspension. Paris Saint-Germain forward Gonçalo Ramos replaces the 40-year-old.
Pedro Neto is out of action this month due to a groin issue, and Martinez has jazzed up his frontline by bringing in Rafael Leão for João Félix down the left. The former has been in fine form for Milan as of late, and carries far more of a threat than the ex-Benfica hotshot.
Renato Veiga has come in to partner Rúben Dias at center back, with Sporting CP defender Gonçalo Inácio dropping out.
Nuno Mendes is a big miss down the left-hand side due to a knee issue, with Martinez turning to Diogo Dalot for 90 minutes against Ireland.
Portugal Confirmed Lineup vs. Armenia
Portugal confirmed lineup vs Armenia (4-3-3): Costa; Semedo, Dias, Veiga, Cancelo; Vitinha, J. Neves, R. Neves; B. Fernandes, Ramos, Leão.
Armenia Confirmed Lineup vs. Portugal
Armenia confirmed lineup vs. Portugal (4-3-3): Avagyan; Piloyan, Muradyan, Mkrtchyan, Tiknizyan; Aghasaryan, Muradyan, Spertsyan; Hovhannisyan, Ranos, Serobyan.
Portugal vs. Armenia Score Prediction
Whisper it, but having no Ronaldo for Sunday’s must-win qualifier might not be a terrible thing for Portugal. Ramos is a more than able replacement, and perhaps Thursday’s woeful showing will serve as the kick up the backside Martinez’s talented squad required.
There’s scope for tension to permeate through Porto this weekend, given that this fixture has suddenly evolved into a must-win, but the addition of the care-free Leão could make all the difference.
Armenia were thumped on home soil in the reverse fixture, and they won’t be pulling off a historic upset here.
Prediction: Portugal 4–0 Armenia
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Portugal vs. Armenia—2026 World Cup Qualifier: Preview, Predictions and Lineups.
