World Cup 2026: Roberto Martinez announces his departure, Portugal has already found his replacement!
The day after Portugal's elimination by Spain, Roberto Martinez confirmed that the round of 16 defeat was his last match in charge of the Seleção. The Portuguese federation has already chosen his successor: Jorge Jesus.
Portugal
Spain- 90'Yellow card: Ferran Torres (Spain)
- 90'Substitution: ↑ Borja Iglesias / ↓ Mikel Oyarzabal. (Spain)
- 90'Yellow card: Renato Veiga (Portugal)
- 90'⚽ Goal for Spain (Mikel Merino)
- 90'Final score: Portugal 0 - 1 Spain
- 89'Yellow card: Bernardo Silva (Portugal)
- 85'Substitution: ↑ Mikel Merino / ↓ Dani Olmo. (Spain)
- 85'Substitution: ↑ Fabián Ruiz / ↓ Pedri. (Spain)
- 83'Substitution: ↑ Bernardo Silva / ↓ Vitinha. (Portugal)
- 83'Substitution: ↑ Francisco Conceição / ↓ Pedro Neto. (Portugal)
- 75'Substitution: ↑ Ferran Torres / ↓ Álex Baena. (Spain)
- 71'Substitution: ↑ Rafael Leão / ↓ João Félix. (Portugal)
- 71'Substitution: ↑ Diogo Dalot / ↓ João Cancelo. (Portugal)
- 56'Substitution: ↑ Nélson Semedo / ↓ Nuno Mendes because of an injury. (Portugal)
- 45'Second half begins
- 45'Half-time
- 45'Half-time
- 0'Kick-off
- 0'Kick-off
The day after Portugal's elimination by Spain (0-1) in the World Cup 2026 round of 16, Roberto Martinez confirmed that match was his last in charge of the Seleção.
"It is true that this is my last match with Portugal's national team, but I want to thank the Portuguese people: it has been an immense honor," the Spanish coach said, describing it as "the end of a cycle" and saying it was only right for the federation president to pick a new manager.
Despite the defeat, Martinez offered an upbeat assessment: "We can be very proud. The players gave their best. I think it was our best match of the World Cup," adding that "the ball hit the bar, it didn't go in, and that made the difference in a very balanced match."
According to A Bola, the Portuguese Football Federation and its president Pedro Proença have chosen Jorge Jesus, 71, to succeed Martinez, following recent spells in Saudi Arabia with Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr — his first-ever national team job despite a huge club career.
The federation hopes to make Jesus the figurehead of Portugal's national team for Euro 2028 and especially the 2030 World Cup, which Portugal will co-host with Morocco and Spain.
