The Portuguese national team kicked off its preparations for Tuesday’s World Cup 2026 qualifier against Hungary this past Sunday. The squad held a training session in Budapest. Players who saw the most action against Armenia focused solely on recovery work. This smart approach helps keep the team fresh.
According to a note posted on the official website of the Portuguese Football Federation, the team trained in the afternoon at Hidegkuti Nándor Stadium. This venue is the home ground for MTK, a local club. Those players who didn’t get minutes in Saturday’s 5-0 thrashing of Armenia in Yerevan took part in the full session.
Meanwhile, the starting lineup and the substitutes who played a good chunk of time in the first Group F match took it easy. They completed only light recovery exercises. It makes sense, given the quick turnaround between important games. Taking care of the players’ bodies is key to their performance.
Right after their big win in Armenia, the team hopped on a plane bound for Budapest. They arrived in the Hungarian capital during the early hours of Sunday morning. It was a speedy trip, showing their immediate focus on the next challenge. International football schedules can be quite demanding, after all.
Coach Roberto MartÃnez’s squad has another training session scheduled for Monday. This practice will take place at the Puskas Arena, the very stadium hosting Tuesday’s second Group F match. It’s always good to get a feel for the pitch beforehand.
Monday’s training is set for 7:00 PM Lisbon time, which is 6:00 PM locally. The first fifteen minutes of this session will be open to members of the media. This gives reporters a brief chance to catch a glimpse of the team’s final preparations.
The Hungary-Portugal match itself is slated for 8:45 PM, or 7:45 PM local time. Erik Lambrechts, a Belgian referee, will be in charge of the game. It promises to be another exciting chapter in the journey towards the 2026 World Cup.