Joao Neves Out of Portugal’s World Cup Qualifiers with Thigh Injury

Several nations have already qualified for the 2026 World Cup, but european qualification is still up for grabs. Because of this, Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal are preparing for their October 2026 World Cup Qualifiers without a key midfielder.

For the upcoming matches against Ireland and Hungary, head coach Roberto Martinez won’t have Joao Neves available. The PSG midfielder picked up a left thigh injury during the Champions League opener against Atalanta.

The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) confirmed the news in an official statement. “The FPF Health and Performance Directorate, in conjunction with the PSG medical department, determined that the Portuguese international midfielder is not in physical condition to participate in the national team’s matches,” the statement explained.

even without Neves, Portugal is expected to continue its strong qualifying form. They started the campaign with a dominant 5-0 win over Armenia, featuring a brace from Cristiano Ronaldo, and followed that with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Hungary, both on the road.

Portugal’s Qualifying Path

Portugal currently leads their qualifying group. They’ll be looking to secure their place in the tournament as quickly as possible. It’s a crucial time for the team, and they’ll need to perform well without one of their rising stars in midfield. One might suggest that Martinez will need to find a suitable replacement to maintain balance and control.

The matches against Ireland and Hungary will be critically important tests. Ireland, known for their physical play, will present a different challenge than Hungary’s more technical approach. portugal will need to adapt and show their quality to earn positive results.

Fans are hoping for a swift recovery for Neves. He’s become an critically important part of both the PSG and Portugal squads, and his absence is definitely felt.It’s a setback, but Portugal has a wealth of talent and will aim to overcome this hurdle.