Portugal and Chile played a friendly match ahead of the 2026 World Cup. A friendly match between Portugal and Chile took place on the eve of the World Cup. Both starters and reserves appeared in the hosts' starting lineup. The game was part of their preparation for the tournament in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
On the evening of June 6, the Estádio Nacional do Jamor in Oeiras, near Lisbon, hosted an international friendly match between the national teams of Portugal and Chile. The game was one of the last tests for both squads ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. The stadium, with a capacity of nearly 38,000 spectators, welcomed teams in experimental lineups.
Portugal’s head coach Roberto Martinez relied on a combination of regular starters and players who less frequently appear on the pitch. Cristiano Ronaldo, for whom the upcoming World Cup will be his sixth, started in attack, joined by Conceição and Rafael Leão. In midfield, Bernardo Silva, Samu Costa, and Bruno Fernandes took the field. Champions League winners Vitinha and João Neves were left on the bench by the coach.
Among Portugal’s substitutes were Diogo Costa, Rui Silva, Velo, Dalot, Tomás Araújo, Inácio, Nuno Mendes, João Neves, Vitinha, Rúben Neves, Guedes, Pedro Neto, Trincão, João Félix, and Gonçalo Ramos. For Chile, the bench featured Guillier, Cortés, Ormazábal, Lichnovsky, Sierralta, Méndez, Millán, Montes, Morales, Reichmuth, Ulloa, Sepúlveda, Echeverría, and Cepeda.
Chile started the match with the following lineup: Vigouroux, Fagúndez, Román, Maripán, Suazo, Loyola, Arce, Pizarro, Maxi Gutiérrez, Tapia, and Osorio. For both coaching staffs, the match presented an opportunity to test tactical combinations and assess player readiness for a world-class tournament.
Before the game, Roberto Martinez noted that after winning the Nations League final against Spain, the team feels confident and is not afraid of being one of the favorites. Attention to the Portuguese squad is also fueled by the fact that Cristiano Ronaldo has once again been included in the final World Cup roster.
Such friendly matches allow coaches not only to assess their immediate reserves but also to determine the best combinations ahead of major tournaments. A similar approach was evident in the recent Champions League final, where, as was noted in the coverage of the Arsenal vs PSG clash, the coaches focused on refreshing the lineup and showing patience.
For reference: Estádio Nacional do Jamor is one of Portugal's historic stadiums and often hosts major football events. The Portuguese national team is traditionally considered one of the strongest in Europe, while Chile is a regular participant in major international tournaments. The final team rosters for the World Cup were published on the eve of the event, which added extra interest to today's match.
