Portugal arrived in the United States on Friday carrying the weight of expectation and the memory of Diogo Jota as they prepared for their 2026 World Cup campaign, with midfielder Vitinha insisting the squad is focused on taking the tournament one game at a time rather than looking ahead to the trophy they are widely tipped to win.
The squad, which includes Cristiano Ronaldo and is considered one of the favourites for the expanded 48-team tournament, held their first training session in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida on Saturday, where they will be based throughout the competition. An energetic group of supporters cheered as the players took to the pitch, with Ronaldo leading the squad in applauding the crowd before the session got under way.
“We have not talked about putting the high pressure on our team,” Vitinha said. “All competitions are won by focusing on the present moment and not worrying about future outcomes. What we can do is think game by game. We would love to win, and if we go through the group stage, we will go one game at a time.”
Each player will carry a personal reminder of what this tournament means. Portugal’s Prime Minister recently met with the squad and presented every member with a bracelet bearing their own name alongside that of Diogo Jota, the Liverpool forward who was killed in a car crash in Spain last July. Jota, a regular in the national squad, was also included as an honorary team member by coach Roberto Martinez ahead of the tournament.
“We have received this with a lot of love,” Vitinha said, pointing to the green and red bracelet on his wrist.
Portugal open their Group campaign against Congo in Houston on 17 June. The session on Saturday took place on a humid afternoon with temperatures in the upper 80s Fahrenheit, around 31 to 32 degrees Celsius, raising the question of how the heat across multiple host cities will affect players throughout the tournament. Cooling stations and hydration breaks during matches have been introduced as protective measures across the 16 host venues.
Vitinha acknowledged the physical challenge the conditions present but was clear that no external factor would serve as an excuse. “The weather conditions will very much affect how we play, but that is for everybody. It’s not just for us. With the temperatures in the United States, Mexico and Canada, it is very different, but it is the world championship. There are no excuses. There are no conditions that can keep us from giving everything for our national team.”
The players also spent time at the beach earlier on Saturday to unwind before training, something Vitinha said was important for the squad’s mental wellbeing as much as physical preparation. “It’s important for our head, our mental aspect as well, to take advantage of the conditions we have and relax a little bit.”
