Nations League preview: Portugal host Wales in Group A4 opener 2026

Key Points

• The international friendly between Portugal and Wales takes place on Thursday, 24 September 2026, at Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon, with kick-off at 19:45 BST (18:45 GMT).
• Jorge Jesus, who recently took over as the manager of the Portuguese team, has announced a 25-man squad including such players as Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Rúben Dias and also newcomers – Samuel Soares, Nuno Tavares, João Palhinha and Fábio Silva.
• The 28-man squad named by Wales’ manager Craig Bellamy features strikers Brennan Johnson, Daniel James and David Brooks; Joe Rodon misses out because of a hamstring injury, whereas Cian Ashford makes his first selection into the national team.
• Portugal are the current holders of the Nations League title and enter the 2026/27 season under new management after being knocked out in the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup; Wales will be playing in League A following their promotion in the previous edition.
• In two last encounters between Portugal and Wales, the former prevailed both times, scoring a goal each without conceding.

Wales (Wales Times) September 21, 2026 – The defending UEFA Nations League champions Portugal open their Group A4 campaign at home against Wales in a fixture that marks the start of the Jorge Jesus era for the Seleção and a stern early test for Craig Bellamy’s side as they return to League A.

What are the Portugal vs Wales match details and kick-off time?

Portugal vs Wales will kick off on Thursday, 24 September 2026 at 19:45 BST (18:45 GMT, 14:45 ET) at Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon, as confirmed in UEFA’s Matchday 1 schedule for League A Group A4. The match is the opening fixture for both teams in a group that also includes Denmark and Norway, with the top two advancing to the quarter-finals in March and the fourth-placed side automatically relegated.

Who are the managers and what have they said about their squads?

Portugal are managed by Jorge Jesus, who was appointed on 9 July 2026 after succeeding Roberto Martínez following the World Cup round-of-16 defeat to Spain. As reported by OJornal via Herald News, Jesus included Cristiano Ronaldo in his first 25-man squad but stressed that selection would be based on form, saying:

“His performance is what matters. The past doesn’t count… With me, players who perform play. Players who do not perform do not play.”

Jesus also defended picks such as Gonçalo Inácio and Rafael Leão, noting Leão has always played through the middle for him.

Wales are led by Craig Bellamy, who has named a 28-player squad for the Nations League A campaign. According to Chris Wathan of BBC Sport Wales, Bellamy handed a first senior call-up to uk/local/cardiff/">Cardiff City forward Cian Ashford but will be without key centre-back Joe Rodon, ruled out with a hamstring injury, alongside Dylan Lawlor (knee) and Ronan Kpakio. The BBC report also noted backroom changes, with Ashley Williams and Alan Sheehan joining Bellamy’s staff after Piet Cremers and James Rowberry departed.

What are the latest squad news and probable lineups for Portugal and Wales?

Jorge Jesus has named a 25-player roster featuring star veterans Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Vitinha, Rúben Dias and 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo, alongside fresh call-ups Nuno Tavares, Samuel Soares, João Palhinha and Fábio Silva, as outlined by Goal and OJornal. Compared with the World Cup squad, four players are new: Benfica goalkeeper Samuel Soares, Lazio defender Nuno Tavares, Benfica midfielder João Palhinha and Borussia Dortmund striker Fábio Silva. Omitted are goalkeeper José Sá, defenders Nélson Semedo and Matheus Nunes, midfielder Samu Costa and forward Gonçalo Guedes.

Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa (Porto), Rui Silva (Sporting CP), Samuel Soares (Benfica).
Defenders: Gonçalo Inácio, Renato Veiga, Rúben Dias, Tomás Araújo, João Cancelo, Diogo Dalot, Nuno Tavares, Nuno Mendes.
Midfielders: Bruno Fernandes, João Palhinha, Rúben Neves, João Neves, Vitinha, Bernardo Silva.
Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo, Fábio Silva, Francisco Trincão, Francisco Conceição, Gonçalo Ramos, João Félix, Pedro Neto, Rafael Leão.

No injuries or suspensions have been confirmed for Portugal at this stage, and a projected starting XI has not been announced, according to Goal’s preview.

Wales squad: Ashford in, Rodon out, Wilson and James return

Craig Bellamy has selected a 28-player squad with attacking options including Brennan Johnson, Daniel James and David Brooks, while Cardiff’s Cian Ashford earns his first senior call-up, BBC Sport Wales reports. Harry Wilson and Jordan James return after missing June’s friendlies through injury, alongside Swansea defender Ben Cabango and recalls for Mark Harris, Liam Cullen and winger Wes Burns. Captain Ben Davies retains his place and is in contention for his first cap since October 2025 after recovering from a serious ankle injury.

Unavailable through injury are Joe Rodon (hamstring), Dylan Lawlor (knee), Ronan Kpakio, Isaak Davies and Rubin Colwill, while midfielder Kai Andrews is not included despite his loan spell at Oxford United, per the BBC.

Goalkeepers: Karl Darlow (Manchester United), Danny Ward (Wrexham), Tom King (Everton).
Defenders: Jay DaSilva, Jayden Lienou, Ben Davies, Rhys Norrington-Davies, Chris Mepham, Ben Cabango, Neco Williams, Connor Roberts.
Midfielders: Ethan Ampadu, Josh Sheehan, Jordan James, Liam Cullen, Joel Colwill, Harry Wilson, Sorba Thomas, David Brooks, Cameron Congreve, Wes Burns.
Forwards: Nathan Broadhead, Brennan Johnson, Kieffer Moore, Lewis Koumas, Mark Harris, Daniel James, Cian Ashford.

How have Portugal and Wales performed in recent matches?

Portugal head into the fixture with two wins, two draws and one defeat in their last five matches, scoring nine goals and conceding two, Goal reports. Their most recent game was a 1-0 round-of-16 loss to Spain at the 2026 World Cup, ending a run that included a 2-1 win over Croatia and a 5-0 victory against Uzbekistan.

Wales have won one, drawn two and lost two of their last five, scoring 11 goals but conceding eight, according to Goal’s form guide. Their latest result was a 2-1 friendly defeat to Romania in June, while their sole win in that span was a 7-1 thrashing of North Macedonia in World Cup qualifying.

What is the head-to-head record between Portugal and Wales?

The two sides have met twice in recorded recent history, with Portugal winning on both occasions and conceding no goals, Goal notes. The most recent fixture was the Euro 2016 semi-final on 6 July 2016, when Portugal won 2-0; before that, Portugal beat Wales 3-0 in a friendly in June 2000.

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What are the Group A4 standings and stakes for Portugal and Wales?

Group A4 comprises Portugal, Denmark, Norway and Wales, with all teams starting on zero points before Matchday 1, as shown in UEFA’s group table. The top two teams advance to the quarter-finals in March, the third-placed side enters a relegation playoff against a League B opponent, and the fourth-placed team is automatically relegated, per UEFA and OJornal. Portugal are two-time Nations League champions, having won the inaugural edition in 2019 and the 2025 final against Spain on penalties after a 2-2 draw in Munich.

Background of the particular development

This match inaugurates Portugal’s title defence under a new manager, Jorge Jesus, who took charge days after the World Cup exit and has emphasised merit-based selection while retaining Cristiano Ronaldo in a 25-man squad that blends experienced stars with four new faces. For Wales, the fixture is part of a demanding opening window in League A that also includes away games at Denmark and home ties against Norway and Denmark, with Bellamy reshaping his backroom staff and integrating fresh attacking options such as Cian Ashford amid injury absences in defence. The broader context is the 2026/27 UEFA Nations League league phase running across September–November 2026, with Matchday 1 scheduled for 24–26 September and subsequent windows in late September/early October and November.

Prediction: how this development can affect fans and stakeholders

For Portuguese supporters, a positive start under Jesus would reinforce confidence in the post-World Cup transition and sustain expectations of another deep Nations League run, while a stuttering opener could intensify scrutiny on squad balance and Ronaldo’s role given the manager’s form-first stance. For Welsh fans, the measure of progress will be whether Bellamy’s side can compete credibly in League A despite missing Joe Rodon and facing a top-10 opponent away; even a narrow defeat with organised defending and threat on the counter could be framed as a step forward, whereas a heavy loss risks amplifying concerns about Wales’ ability to beat higher-ranked teams. For neutral observers and bettors, the fixture sets an early benchmark for Group A4’s competitive order, with Portugal widely favoured but Wales’ pace in transition offering a route to make the contest closer than rankings suggest.