Portugal Dominates Armenia 5-1 in Crucial World Cup Qualifier

Oporto, Portugal – On Sunday, Portugal faced Armenia in a crucial World Cup qualifying match at the Estádio do Dragão. Portugal aimed to secure a direct spot in the 2026 World Cup, following their disappointing 2-0 loss to Ireland in their previous match.

Head Coach Roberto Martínez‘s squad came with an added pressure after losing star player Cristiano Ronaldo due to a red card in the last game. Nevertheless, the Portuguese team showed resilience, needing only a victory to clinch first place in Group F.

Portugal quickly took charge of the match with Renato Veiga scoring the opening goal in the 6th minute. After a brief scare when Armenia equalized with a goal from Eduard Spertsyan, Portugal responded aggressively. Joao Neves scored his first of two goals in the 29th minute, followed by a second just before halftime.

Bruno Fernandes added a goal from the penalty spot and Neves completed his brace with a stunning free-kick, ensuring a comfortable 5-1 lead at halftime.

“We played with concentration and determination. We knew we had to win to make it to the World Cup, and we delivered,” Neves said in a post-match interview.

Armenia concluded their qualifying campaign without a win, leaving their coach Eghishe Melikyan disappointed but hopeful for the future. He stated, “We showed some character today, but we need to build more consistency moving forward.”

With this victory, Portugal secured their place in the World Cup, a significant achievement for the squad under Martínez’s guidance, especially without their captain. The tournament will take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico in 2026.