Ronaldo's Portugal Team is the Last to Arrive in the US

Cristiano Ronaldo's Portuguese national team has officially landed in the United States for the 2026 World Cup, making them the final team to arrive. Their flight touched down in Florida early on June 13th, marking the beginning of their quest for a historic first World Cup title.

Portugal's delayed arrival is attributed to their position in Group K, which featured the latest schedule of qualifying matches in the World Cup. Unlike many other nations that arrived earlier to acclimatize to local conditions, the Portuguese squad opted to complete their preparations in their home country. They played two friendly matches against Chile and Nigeria on June 7th and 11th, respectively, securing 2-1 victories in both, despite Ronaldo's performance being described as disappointing.

FIFA regulations require teams to be present in their host city at least five days before their opening match. Portugal's arrival, two days after the tournament's commencement, complies with this rule. The team will conduct their training at the Gardens North County District Park in Palm Beach Gardens.

Their opening match is scheduled for June 18th against the Democratic Republic of Congo in Houston. Ahead of the tournament, Ronaldo conveyed a message of optimism, stating, "We come to the tournament with hope. This is a very talented generation, but there are factors we cannot control, like the outcome of the match, win or lose. That is the most important thing. I believe this is a generation that will bring a lot of joy to the Portuguese people."

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We come to the tournament with hope. This is a very talented generation, but there are factors we cannot control, like the outcome of the match, win or lose. That is the most important thing. I believe this is a generation that will bring a lot of joy to the Portuguese people.