PSG's Success Complicates Portugal's World Cup Preparations

For the second consecutive year, PSG has reached the UEFA Champions League final. After securing their first title in the 2024/25 season, the Parisian giants eliminated Bayern Munich with a 6-5 aggregate victory last Wednesday. They now stand on the brink of back-to-back European crowns if they can overcome Arsenal in the final on May 30th in Budapest.

This is excellent news for Gonçalo Ramos, João Neves, Nuno Mendes, and Vitinha, the four Portuguese players in Luis Enrique's squad. However, it presents a challenge for Portugal and national team coach Roberto Martínez. Due to their involvement in the Champions League final, these players will miss the initial phase of preparation for the 2026 World Cup. Martínez is set to announce his World Cup squad on May 19th.

Before the tournament's final stage, the national team is scheduled to face Chile on June 6th at the Estádio Nacional, followed by a match against Nigeria on June 10th in Leiria. Crucially, just one week before the clash with Chile, the four Portuguese stars will be competing in the Champions League final.

While other national teams are also impacted by this scheduling conflict, Portugal, with four key players involved, is among the most affected. France, for instance, has Dembélé, Doué, Barcola, Zaire-Emery, and Lucas Hernández at PSG, along with Saliba at Arsenal.

England (Madueke, Saka, Eze, Rice, and Ben White), Spain (Raya, Mosquera, Zubimendi, Fabián Ruiz, and potentially Merino), and Brazil (Marquinhos, Beraldo, Martinelli, Gabriel Magalhães, and possibly Gabriel Jesus) are other national teams facing similar challenges.