Date of Publication: September 5, 2025
Match Details: Armenia vs. Portugal
Event: Qualifying Round for FIFA 2026 World Cup
Location: Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium, Yerevan, Armenia
Date and Time: Saturday, September 6 at 20:00 local time (16:00 GMT).
How to Stay Updated: Catch all the pre-match insights on Al Jazeera Sport starting at 13:00 GMT, leading up to our live text commentary.
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Portugal kicks off their bid for the FIFA 2026 World Cup in Yerevan against Armenia. This match marks a poignant moment as it’s the first for Portugal since the tragic loss of forward Diogo Jota.
Midfielder Ruben Neves will honor his late friend, Jota, by donning the number 21 jersey during matches and has unveiled a tattoo on his calf as a tribute to the former Liverpool star, who passed away in July.
“The entire team and I will do everything possible to keep Diogo’s spirit alive with us,” Neves stated at a tribute held before their crucial qualifiers against Armenia and Hungary. The Republic of Ireland is also in Group F.
Tragically, Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, lost their lives in a car accident on July 3.
Neves, currently with Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia, shared his heartfelt sentiments about Jota, who was also his teammate both at Wolverhampton and on the national stage, during the ceremony attended by Cristiano Ronaldo and prominent figures including Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Prime Minister Luis Montenegro.
To honor their memory, the Portuguese Football Federation shared a video of Neves showing off his tattoo that depicts him embracing Jota in the iconic number 21 jersey.
𝗡𝗮𝗱𝗮 𝗡𝗼𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗿. Por ti, Diogo Jota 🤍 pic.twitter.com/Qy56zijvNP
— Portugal (@selecaoportugal) September 2, 2025
The tribute ceremony also honored Jorge Costa, another notable former player who sadly passed away due to a cardiac arrest last month.
Pedro Proenca, president of the Portuguese Football Federation, remarked on the dedication of both Jota and Costa, stating they were passionate about football and their nation, always proudly representing the colors of Portugal.
Both Jota and Costa received posthumous accolades as Commanders of the Order of Merit, which were accepted by their families.
The team roster is noted to have “23 (+1)” players, a further tribute to Jota’s legacy.
Portugal’s Delay in World Cup Qualifiers
Portugal, alongside 23 other nations, is only now entering the World Cup qualifying round due to the conclusion of the 2025 Nations League, which wrapped up in June.
Portugal emerged victorious by defeating Spain in a dramatic final that ended 5-3 on penalties.
The journey to this qualifying round was delayed as top seeds from the Nations League took the lead.
Head-to-Head Record
This matchup will be the seventh encounter between Armenia and Portugal, with Portugal securing four victories and two matches ending in a draw.
The last clash occurred during a Euro qualifier in 2015, where Portugal emerged triumphant with a 3-2 win in Armenia.
Updates on the Armenian Squad
Injury concerns include Narek Grigoryan, while Norberto Briasco will be absent due to personal reasons. On a positive note, Lucas Zelarayan and Grant-Leon Ranos are expected to return to the lineup.
Updates on the Portuguese Squad
Injuries have sidelined Rafael Leao and Diogo Dalot, while Cristiano Ronaldo remains a key player, having scored five goals in his four previous encounters against Armenia, including a hat-trick in their last face-off.
Predicted Starting XI for Armenia
Cancarevic; Hovhannisyan, Mkrtchyan, Arutyunyan, Muradyan, Tiknizyan; Iwu, Dashyan; Bichakhchyan, Zelarayan; Barseghyan
Predicted Starting XI for Portugal
Costa; Cancelo, Dias, A. Silva, Mendes; Fernandes, R. Neves, Bernardo; Conceicao, Ronaldo, Neto