Portugal beats Chile 2-1 in World Cup prep friendly

Portugal began their 2026 World Cup preparation with a 2-1 victory over Chile in a friendly match at the Estádio Nacional do Jamor near Lisbon. Gonçalo Guedes and Bruno Fernandes scored for the team managed by Roberto Martínez, who are aiming for a strong showing in the upcoming tournament.

The Portuguese squad largely controlled the game, but Chilean goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux made several key saves to deny attempts from Rúben Dias and Cristiano Ronaldo. The match was also marked by a heated exchange before halftime, resulting in direct red cards for Portugal's Rafael Leão and Chile's Iván Román, leaving both teams to play with ten men.

Despite playing with ten men for a significant portion of the match, Portugal's quality shone through in the second half. Guedes opened the scoring in the 58th minute after receiving a through ball from Rúben Neves. Fernandes extended the lead in the 75th minute with a powerful shot from outside the area. Chile managed a late consolation goal through Lucas Cepeda, who capitalized on a lapse in concentration from the Portuguese defense.

Portugal will continue their World Cup preparations with another friendly against Nigeria on June 10th. The red card for Leão is a significant concern for coach Martínez, as the AC Milan winger is a key player for their World Cup campaign. Portugal is in Group K of the World Cup, alongside the Democratic Republic of Congo, Colombia, and Uzbekistan.