Ireland take on the visitors Portugal in a World Cup 2026 qualification match. The match will be played on Thursday, November 13th at Aviva Stadium (Dublin).
Ireland can still surprise. The Greens have long been stuck in the role of outsiders, failing to reach major tournaments and often falling short in playoffs — though in March they did manage to beat Bulgaria twice in the Nations League play-out. Coming into this group, they were again seen as underdogs, yet the squad remains fairly solid, with a number of players experienced in the Premier League. At home, Ireland can still be a tough opponent — they drew with Hungary and defeated Armenia, even if their trip to Yerevan ended in a 1–2 loss. If they manage to challenge the favorite here, or even snatch a win, the upcoming visit to Budapest could suddenly turn into a decisive clash for second place in the standings. Ireland’s form has shown flashes of promise, especially defensively, where they’ve become more disciplined and compact. Their recent home performances suggest that the team is regaining confidence, and this match could be another step toward proving their competitive resilience.
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Portugal changed their coach after the last World Cup. Their Euro campaign under Roberto Martínez drew mixed reviews, but they followed it with an impressive Nations League run — reaching the final and beating neighboring Spain on penalties. That success seemed to promise a smooth qualifying path this autumn, and indeed, Portugal won all three of their first-round matches. The toughest test came against Ireland, where Rúben Neves scored the only goal in stoppage time. They looked set to confirm their dominance when they hosted Hungary in October, but after a brace from the evergreen Ronaldo, they conceded a dramatic equalizer from Dominik Szoboszlai right before the final whistle. A draw might still be enough to seal top spot, but naturally, the visitors will aim for a convincing finish. Portugal remain one of the most consistent teams in Europe, rarely dropping points in qualifiers and often controlling games from start to finish. Still, their recent defensive lapses suggest a slight loss of concentration, something they’ll need to correct to avoid another late setback.
In the last five meetings, Ronaldo and company have won four times, with Ireland managing only one goalless draw. The visitors should not allow another slip-up, but an open and high-scoring game is unlikely. Bet on “total under 3.0 goals.”
Prediction for the match: Under 3.0 handicap.
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