Portugal confirmed their passage to the 2026 World Cup with a commanding display against Armenia, led by hat tricks from Bruno Fernandes and Joao Neves. The team entered the match under pressure after a setback against the Republic of Ireland, a defeat made worse by Cristiano Ronaldo’s dismissal in that encounter.
The tension eased quickly when Renato Veiga met a well-placed free kick from Fernandes and nodded the ball into the net to set Portugal on their way. Armenia briefly stopped the momentum when Eduard Spertsyan reacted quickest inside the area and leveled the score midway through the opening half.
That equalizer did little to unsettle Portugal. Goncalo Ramos restored the advantage soon after by guiding a composed finish beyond the goalkeeper. Neves then produced two strikes in succession, one arriving after a sweeping move and the next produced from a dead-ball effort that curled beyond the defensive wall.
Ruben Dias won a penalty just before the interval, giving Fernandes the chance to calmly send the goalkeeper the wrong way and extend the lead. With that, Portugal went into the break firmly in command of the contest.
Relentless scoring secures overwhelming result
The pattern resumed once the teams returned. Fernandes collected his second of the match with a driven attempt that found the corner of the net. He soon completed his treble from the penalty spot after Carlos Forbs was impeded inside the area, adding further distance between the sides.
Neves was not finished either. The midfielder ensured he matched Fernandes’ tally by guiding in a precise effort from central range, taking Portugal’s total to eight goals and further demonstrating their control of the game.
Francisco Conceicao added the final touch in the closing moments, drilling the ball inside the near post to complete a resounding performance. It capped a night in which Portugal maintained attack-minded pressure from start to finish.
Suspension concerns for Ronaldo ahead of next year
Portugal’s emphatic win also confirmed their place at the tournament without needing help from elsewhere. However, attention now turns to Ronaldo’s disciplinary situation. His red card against the Republic of Ireland has already ruled him out of the next fixture, but a decision from FIFA could increase that punishment.
Should the governing body extend the ban, the forward may miss Portugal’s opening two matches at the 2026 World Cup. That outcome remains possible as officials review the circumstances of his sending off.