Portugal to face Croatia day before Diogo Jota death anniversary

Portugal has secured a spot in the 2026 World Cup round of 16, advancing as the second-place team in Group K after two draws and one victory. Their next challenge will be a match against Croatia, a team they know well.

Significantly, Portugal's round of 16 match against Croatia is scheduled for July 2, 2025. This date falls just one day before the anniversary of the tragic death of Diogo Jota, who passed away in a car accident at the age of 28 on July 3, 2025, in Zamora, Spain. Jota's death deeply impacted the football world, and he remains a cherished figure among his former teammates and coaches.

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It seems to me that every day is difficult, when we train there are always moments where Diogo Jota returns to our memory, so I wouldn't say that the anniversary of his death will be something particularly difficult, I would say it is a celebration, we have to win for him.

Head coach Roberto Martínez expressed that the team's ultimate goal is to win the World Cup in honor of Jota. He acknowledged that while every day is difficult, Jota's memory is ever-present during training sessions. Martínez views the upcoming anniversary not as a particularly difficult time, but as a reason to celebrate and strive for victory in his memory.

"Everything we started as a team started with him, we won the Nations League with him, we want to win the World Cup for him," Martínez stated. He added that Jota's presence continues to be felt within the squad, even after his passing. The team is now focused on recovery and preparation for the match against Croatia, marking the beginning of what Martínez calls "a new World Cup" for the team.

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Everything we started as a team started with him, we won the Nations League with him, we want to win the World Cup for him. The anniversary of his death means saying that the next match is his. When he was with us, we were probably stronger, but his presence is clear within us.