The Portugal national football team was formed in 1914, but didn’t make it to a world cup until 1966. Over the years the team has featured some of the best players in the world, including Eusebio, Luis Figo and Cristiano Ronaldo. Despite this the side has never won a world cup or European championship.

Their first world cup still represents the side’s best finish. The Portugal national football team lost in the Euro 2004 final to Greece, and have made it to the semi-finals of the same competition on three other occasions.

The team’s first international was played in 1921, a 3-1 defeat to Spain in Madrid. Their biggest win of 8-0 has happened on three occasions. Twice against Liechtenstein in 1994 and 1999, and once against Kuwait in 2003. A hefty 10-0 loss to England in 1947 still represents the Portugal national football team’s biggest defeat.

World cup history

1966

1966

England

In 1966 the world cup was hosted and won by England. The Portugal national football team faced a group containing the toughest sides of the time. Despite this they won all three matches and finished top. 3-1 wins against Hungary and Brazil sandwiched a 3-0 win over Bulgaria. In the quarter-final the team faced minnows North Korea and were 3-0 down within 25 minutes. Four goals from Eusebio turned the game however, and the side eventually won 5-3. A 2-1 loss to eventual winners England followed in the semi-final, and the team ended their campaign with a 2-1 win over the Soviet Union in the third place play-off. Eusebio finished as tournament top goalscorer with nine goals.

1986

Mexico

It was 20 years until the Portugal national football team qualified for another world cup. In 1986 the tournament was hosted by Mexico and won by Argentina. Things began well for the side as they gained their revenge over England, beating them 1-0. Defeats to Poland and Morocco followed however, which left the side bottom of the group and out of the competition.

2002

Japan and South Korea

Things improved for the side as it only took another 16 years for the Portugal national football team to qualify again. The world cup visited Asia for the first time in 2002, with Japan and South Korea hosting the competition which was won by Brazil. Portugal opened their tournament with a shock defeat to the United States. A 4-0 win over Poland put the side back on track in the second group game. This was as good as it got though for the Portugal national football team, as they rather meekly lost 1-0 to South Korea and were on their way home.

2006

Germany

The world cup returned to Europe in 2006, as Germany were the hosts. Italy eventually won the tournament after beating France in the final. After their difficulties four year previously, the Portugal national football team improved but admittedly they were in a weaker group. A 1-0 win over Angola was followed by a 2-0 over Iran and a 2-1 over Mexico. Three wins put the side top of the group and into the knock-out phase. The team overcame the Netherlands in the last 16 and then squeezed past England on penalties in the quarter final. The side finally came unstuck in the semi-final against France. A 1-0 loss put them into the third place play-off which they lost 3-1 to hosts Germany.

2010

South Africa

The tournament went to Africa for the first time ever in 2010. South Africa were the hosts, and it was Spain who lifted the world cup for the first time. After an easy group last time around, the Portugal national football team this time were faced with the group of death. Brazil, Ivory Coast and North Korea were the other teams. 0-0 draws with the Ivory Coast and Brazil sandwiched a hefty 7-0 win over North Korea. This was enough for them to progress in second place behind Brazil. In the last 16 the team came up against old rivals Spain. The eventual tournament winners went through 1-0 and left Portugal making their way home.

2014

Brazil

The world cup returned to Brazil for the first time since 1950. It was won by Germany, who became the first European team ever to win a world cup on South American soil. In their centenary year the Portugal national football team faced the eventual champions in their first group fixture. Things didn’t start well as they were thumped 4-0. A 2-2 draw with the United States and a 2-1 win over Ghana followed, but it wasn’t enough. The team finished third in the group, on the same points but with an inferior goal difference to the United States.

2018

Russia

The Portugal national football team have been drawn in Group B alongside Switzerland, Hungary, Faroe Islands, Latvia, and Andorra.

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