Portugal vs Wales Prediction & Preview - Nations League
Wales have not won a match in their last three outings - a 2-1 defeat to Romania and back-to-back 1-1 draws against Ghana and Northern Ireland - and now they travel to face a Portugal side that reached the closing stages of the World Cup this summer. Thursday's UEFA Nations League opener pits a Portugal team fresh from a deep tournament run against a Wales side still searching for its first win of the year.
What time is kick-off for Portugal vs Wales?
Portugal play Wales on Thursday 24 September 2026, kicking off at 19:45 BST in Lisbon. The match opens Group A4 of the 2026-27 UEFA Nations League for both sides.
- Fixture: Portugal vs Wales
- Competition: UEFA Nations League
- Date: Thursday 24 September 2026
- Kick-off: 19:45 BST
- Venue: Lisbon, Portugal
Full match details and live coverage are on the Portugal vs Wales match page.
Portugal's World Cup run against Wales' winless run
Portugal's last five matches came at this summer's World Cup, and the record reads well: wins over Uzbekistan (5-0), Chile (2-1), Nigeria (2-1) and Croatia (2-1), a draw with DR Congo, and a single defeat, 0-1 to Spain, that ended their tournament. Wales, by contrast, have not featured at a major tournament in this run of matches. Their last three games, all friendlies, produced two draws and a loss and no goals conceded fewer than one. Portugal arrive with recent knockout football behind them. Wales arrive without a win since March.
Portugal team news
Jorge Jesus takes charge of Portugal for these matches, having replaced Roberto Martinez after the team's World Cup exit. Cristiano Ronaldo, now 41 and the all-time leading scorer in men's international football with 146 goals, has been named in the squad. Bruno Fernandes, Diogo Dalot and Pedro Neto are also included.
Wales team news
Craig Bellamy is without both first-choice centre-backs, Joe Rodon and Dylan Lawlor, through injury, and has drafted in Leeds defender Jayden Lienou and uncapped Cardiff forward Cian Ashford. Harry Wilson had been recalled to the squad after missing June's friendlies but has since picked up a quadriceps injury that makes him a doubt for the trip to Lisbon. It leaves Bellamy short at the back against a Portugal forward line that scored freely all summer.
Group A4: who else Portugal and Wales play
Portugal enter this Nations League as two-time champions, having won the competition in 2019 and 2025. Wales' route through Group A4 continues with two games against Denmark and a home fixture against Norway at Cardiff City Stadium, either side of this trip to Lisbon.
Portugal vs Wales prediction
Portugal to beat Wales in their UEFA Nations League opener in Lisbon, with Wales' threadbare defence and long winless run against a Portugal side still carrying its World Cup form. Ronaldo, Fernandes and Neto give Jorge Jesus attacking options that Wales' patched-up back line, missing Rodon and Lawlor, will find hard to contain. Wales have not scored more than once in any of their last three matches, and a first win of the year looks unlikely here.
Our prediction: Portugal 2-0 Wales
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