Who: Portugal vs Republic of Eire
What: UEFA World Cup qualifier
The place: Estadio Jose Alvalade in Lisbon, Portugal
When: Saturday, October 11, at 7:45pm (18:45 GMT)
Portugal will search to strengthen their grip on Group F of their UEFA World Cup qualifying marketing campaign after they face the winless Republic of Eire in Lisbon on Saturday.
Beneficial Tales
checklist of 4 objectsfinish of checklist
The Portuguese stormed to the UEFA Nations League title earlier this yr and are a part of the group of soccer groups which have belatedly joined the qualifiers for the FIFA 2026 World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico.
Al Jazeera Sport takes a take a look at the match that would put one foot in subsequent yr’s closing for Portugal, whereas it’s a must-win for the Irish.
How have Portugal fared of their World Cup qualifiers to date?
Portugal have gained each their opening qualifiers in Group F, profitable 5-0 in Armenia of their first match and 3-2 in Hungary of their second recreation.
How have Eire fared of their World Cup qualifiers to date?
Eire got here from two behind in Dublin to attract 2-2 of their opening Group F match in opposition to 10-man Hungary. Adam Idah scored the leveller within the ninetieth minute. The Irish fell two behind as soon as once more of their second match, away to Armenia, however Evan Ferguson’s 57th-minute strike didn’t arrange one other comeback on this event, with the hosts holding on for a 2-1 win.
Why have Portugal and Eire solely just lately joined the World Cup qualifying course of?
Portugal and Eire, together with 22 different groups, are solely becoming a member of the qualifying programme for the World Cup now because of the progress of among the high seeds within the 2025 Nations League, which culminated in June.
Portugal have been topped champions as they beat Spain 5-3 on penalties within the 2025 closing.
Portugal beat Germany within the semifinal, whereas Spain overcame France. The remainder of the qualifiers for the latter phases of that match are additionally solely coming into the World Cup qualifiers now.
The spots are filling up.⏳🏆 @aramco | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/3opHdZQUDX
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) October 10, 2025
What occurred the final time Portugal performed Eire?
Portugal beat Eire 3-0 in a pleasant match in June 2024 within the final assembly between the perimeters.
Joao Felix gave the Portuguese the lead within the first half of the match in Aveiro, earlier than Cristiano Ronaldo bagged a brace to seal the win.
The final aggressive assembly between the perimeters was in a World Cup qualifier in 2021, which resulted in a 0-0 attract Eire. Portugal gained the reverse fixture 3-1, aiding their qualification for the Qatar 2022 World Cup. Eire didn’t qualify.
Roberto Martinez says Cristiano Ronaldo has misplaced none of his starvation
“Usually, when a participant wins or achieves one thing, the following morning they don’t have the identical starvation. However I haven’t seen that with Cristiano Ronaldo,” Martinez mentioned forward of the Eire match.
“With him, the following morning is a chance to grow to be higher and win once more. That is distinctive. I can’t clarify it.
“He’s had a 20-year profession. He’s not the identical participant as he was earlier than, however he all the time finds a option to be helpful. And he’s an instance to the others. His love of enjoying soccer and the nationwide staff is there for all to see. He has performed greater than 200 video games and continues to set an instance. He will likely be remembered without end.
On the qualification course of, Martinez added: “The nationwide staff’s focus is on attempting to qualify. We proceed step-by-step. The coaching camp in September was superb, however we will’t lose what we did in September. Our focus is on attempting to be at the very best degree in opposition to Eire.”
Eire want ‘nearly excellent recreation’ in opposition to Portugal
“We all know that we have to have nearly an ideal recreation to get one thing from this match,” Heimir Hallgrimsson, the Republic of Eire coach, mentioned.
“If we do, we now have an opportunity to steal a degree or to win the sport. Clearly, we have to attempt to preserve a clear sheet. That’s all the time going to make it simpler.
“We’ve a recreation plan that we expect goes to work. We’ll see if that materialises. However clearly, if you happen to take a look at the desk, we want a minimum of a minimal three factors from this camp. And for apparent causes, it’s most likely the Armenia recreation that everyone is saying: ‘OK, we will have a very good efficiency and a greater efficiency than in Armenia and get three factors there.’”
Head-to-head
That is solely the seventeenth assembly between the European sides, with Portugal profitable 9 and Eire profitable 4.
Eire’s final win within the fixture got here in a pleasant between the perimeters in 2005, courtesy of Andy O’Brien’s solitary strike in Dublin. There have been 4 subsequent matches, of which Portugal have gained three.
Eire’s final aggressive win in opposition to Portugal got here in a European Championships qualifier in 1995.
The fixture dates again to 1946 and started with a 3-1 house win for Portugal in a pleasant.
Portugal type
W-W-W-W-W
Republic of Eire type
W-D-D-D-L
Portugal staff information
Midfielder Joao Neves and defender Joao Cancelo are each absent because of hamstring accidents.
Republic of Eire staff information
The Irish have been hit by an in depth harm checklist, together with Matt Doherty, Jason Knight, Bosun Lawal, Callum O’Dowda and Sammie Szmodics
Striker Troy Parrott made a substitute look in a match with AZ Alkmaar on the weekend, and returns to the Eire squad, having missed the final two internationals because of harm.
Portugal predicted beginning lineup
Costa; Dalot, Dias, Inacio, Mendes; Bernardo, Vitinha, Fernandes; Conceicao, Ronaldo, Neto
Republic of Eire doable beginning lineup
Kelleher; O’Brien, O’Shea, Collins; Ogbene; Cullen, Knight, Manning; Taylor, Azaz; Ferguson
