Martinez’s Bold World Cup 2026 Claim: Portugal Ready to Win Final With Ronaldo Leading Charge

Portugal’s head coach Roberto Martinez just dropped a statement that’s sending shockwaves through the football world. When asked about his biggest wish ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Martinez didn’t hold back: “To play in the World Cup final. If we play it, we win it, for sure.”

That’s not coach-speak. That’s a declaration of war against every title contender preparing for the FIFA World Cup 2026—the most ambitious tournament in football history, featuring 48 teams across the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19. With Cristiano Ronaldo likely making his final World Cup appearance at 41, Martinez’s confidence signals Portugal believes this is their moment to finally claim football’s ultimate prize.

The Conviction Behind Martinez’s World Cup Promise

Martinez’s bold claim isn’t baseless arrogance. Since taking over Portugal’s national team three years ago, the Spanish tactician has delivered tangible results that justify his confidence. His crowning achievement? Leading Portugal to UEFA Nations League glory after defeating Spain in the final—proof his system works against elite opposition.

“I would love to play in a final,” Martinez admitted in his interview with Marca. “Emotionally, you have to show a lot of respect for where we come from, but professionally the work is always focused on what we can achieve. If we can play another final, like we did in the Nations League, that would be fantastic.”

Martinez’s Portugal Track Record:

His comment about “playing eight matches would be a success” reveals the tournament roadmap—reach the final, and Portugal believes they’re unbeatable. That eighth match would be the World Cup final itself, and Martinez’s certainty about winning it if they get there speaks volumes about his squad’s mental preparation.

Why Portugal Aren’t “Favorites” Despite Martinez’s Confidence

Here’s where Martinez’s analysis gets fascinating. Despite his bold final prediction, he categorizes Portugal as “contenders” rather than “favorites”—and his reasoning cuts to the psychological core of World Cup success.

“I think only teams that have previously won a World Cup can truly be considered favorites,” Martinez explained. “Psychologically, knowing that a previous generation has won that tournament gives you a special strength.”

This distinction isn’t semantic splitting—it’s rooted in World Cup history. Martinez points out that in the last 11 tournaments, only twice have first-time winners claimed the trophy: France in 1998 and Spain in 2010. The pressure of winning a nation’s first World Cup creates unique psychological burdens that experienced champions don’t face.

Martinez’s World Cup 2026 Favorites List

According to the Portugal coach, these nations enter as genuine favorites:

Tier 1 – True Favorites:

• Spain: “Arriving in very good shape” with complete squad balance
• Germany: “Well prepared” after Nations League experience; only European team to win a World Cup in the Americas (Brazil 2014)
• France: “Built for major tournaments” with tactical flexibility
• Brazil: Proximity advantage and World Cup pedigree
• Argentina: Defending champions with tournament experience

Tier 2 – Contenders (Including Portugal):

Teams with quality squads but lacking World Cup-winning history or specific psychological advantages that come from previous championship triumphs.

This honest assessment from Martinez reveals sophisticated tournament thinking. He’s not underestimating Portugal—he’s acknowledging the unique mental challenges first-time winners face while simultaneously declaring his team ready to overcome them.

Fans tracking all qualified teams for 2026 will notice Portugal’s group stage opponents remain crucial to their final-reaching aspirations, making Martinez’s preparation even more critical.

The Cristiano Ronaldo Factor at Age 41

Martinez’s confidence partly stems from still having Cristiano Ronaldo available—likely for his final World Cup appearance. At 41, Ronaldo defies conventional aging curves for professional athletes, maintaining extraordinary physical conditioning and competitive drive.

Martinez recently revealed Ronaldo’s secret to longevity: “His dedication to recovery, nutrition, and mental preparation goes beyond what any other player does. He’s essentially created a second career after 35.”

Ronaldo’s World Cup 2026 Factors:

The emotional weight of Ronaldo’s final World Cup creates narrative pressure, but Martinez has shown skill in managing these dynamics. Rather than building the entire system around Ronaldo, he’s integrated emerging talents while maximizing CR7’s specific strengths—primarily his positioning, finishing, and leadership.

This balanced approach explains Martinez’s confidence. Portugal isn’t dependent on a 41-year-old carrying them; they’re leveraging his experience within a complete tactical system.

Martinez’s Controversial World Cup Format Criticism

While praising the expanded 48-team format’s inclusivity—”The World Cup is for everyone”—Martinez criticized the tournament structure itself, proposing significant changes for future editions.

“What I don’t like is the format. There are too many matches, and all of them should matter,” Martinez stated, before suggesting: “I would like group winners, as happens in the Champions League, to automatically advance one round. That way, we would avoid situations where the third group-stage match becomes an opportunity to see which path is more appealing.”

Current vs Proposed Format:

• Current 2026 Format: 16 groups of 3 teams, top 2 advance
• Martinez’s Proposal: Group winners skip one knockout round
• Rationale: Eliminates strategic tanking for favorable bracket positions

This criticism reflects coaching pragmatism. Martinez worries teams might intentionally avoid winning groups to secure easier knockout paths—a legitimate concern that could undermine competitive integrity.

Stay updated on all tournament format discussions and rule changes through latest FIFA 26 updates as FIFA finalizes operational details.

Portugal’s Realistic Path to Martinez’s Promised Final

For Martinez’s bold prediction to materialize, Portugal must navigate a brutal tournament landscape. The expanded format means more potential banana-peel matches against motivated underdogs, while the knockout stages will likely require defeating multiple Tier 1 favorites.

Potential Championship Path:

1. Group Stage: Navigate three matches without injuries to key players
2. Round of 32: Avoid upset against emerging nations
3. Round of 16: First major tactical test
4. Quarterfinals: Likely face Tier 1 favorite
5. Semifinals: Another elite opponent
6. Final: Martinez’s guaranteed win scenario

The confidence Martinez exudes suggests Portugal has developed specific tactical plans for each potential opponent—the kind of detailed preparation that separates contenders from champions.

Mental Edge: Why Belief Matters at World Cups

Martinez’s public declaration serves psychological purposes beyond media soundbites. By stating unequivocally “if we play it, we win it,” he’s programming his squad’s collective mindset with championship certainty.

This mental conditioning mirrors what Portugal achieved at Euro 2016, when they won despite not being favorites. The belief that they could beat any opponent on any given day carried them through tight matches that could have gone either way.

Now Martinez is scaling that mentality to World Cup level—the tournament’s biggest stage with the highest pressure. Whether it works depends on execution, but the psychological foundation is clearly in place.

FAQs

Q1: What did Roberto Martinez say about Portugal’s World Cup 2026 chances?
Martinez stated if Portugal reaches the World Cup final, they will win it for sure, expressing complete confidence in his squad’s ability to claim the title.

Q2: Why doesn’t Martinez consider Portugal favorites despite his bold claim?
He believes only nations with previous World Cup victories are true favorites due to the psychological strength from past championship experience—Portugal has never won.

Q3: Who does Roberto Martinez think are the real World Cup 2026 favorites?
Martinez names Spain, Germany, France, Brazil, and Argentina as favorites based on their previous World Cup wins and current squad strength.

Q4: Will Cristiano Ronaldo play in the 2026 World Cup?
Yes, Ronaldo is expected to compete at age 41, likely making this his fifth and final World Cup appearance before retirement.

Q5: What format change does Martinez want for future World Cups?
He proposes group winners automatically advance one knockout round (like Champions League) to prevent teams strategically losing for easier bracket positions.

Q6: When and where will the FIFA World Cup 2026 take place?
The tournament runs June 11-July 19, 2026 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico—the first World Cup hosted by three nations.