Portugal: Jorge Jesus Makes First Announcements as New National Team Coach
Jorge Jesus, the 71-year-old former Benfica and Al-Hilal manager, has been appointed as the new head coach of the Portugal national team, replacing Roberto Martinez after Portugal's elimination from the 2026 World Cup by Spain (0-1). In his first public statements, Jesus addressed the status of 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo, stating he will never be a problem and that age is not a factor in his evaluations. Jesus announced that his first squad for the Nations League match against Wales on September 24 will closely resemble the 2026 World Cup squad, with only two or three new players. He emphasized the need for the team to play better than at the World Cup, noting that despite having great players, Portugal has not won much recently, with their last major trophy being Euro 2016. His main objective is building a team capable of competing for the 2030 World Cup, which Portugal co-hosts with Spain and Morocco.
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