Roberto Martinez to Leave Portugal at End of July, Christiano Watch Begins

christiano is heading into the World Cup with a managerial change already on the calendar. Roberto Martinez will leave Portugal when his contract expires at the end of July, and he has decided not to renew it. That puts Portugal on course to finish the tournament with one coach and start the next phase with another.

Martinez Sets End-of-July Exit

Martinez’s departure comes after a spell that added trophies to Portugal’s record. The team won Euro 2016, then the UEFA Nations League in 2019 and 2025, before this latest decision to step away following the current World Cup campaign.

The decision was made in conjunction with the Portuguese FA, which is already beginning its search for a successor. Martinez is expected to depart when his deal runs out at the end of July, closing a contract that had stretched through the tournament window.

Portugal’s Group K Starts June 17

Portugal open their Group K campaign against DR Congo on Wednesday, June 17. They then face Uzbekistan on June 23 before concluding the group stage against Colombia on June 28. Those dates now sit alongside the coaching change, with the squad trying to keep its tournament focus while the next manager race starts.

Christiano Ronaldo remains the other major figure in the picture. He is widely expected to be playing in his final major tournament and is chasing the World Cup, the only significant prize missing from his resume. Bruno Fernandes also forms part of the squad picture as Portugal move through the group stage with their manager’s exit already set.

Martinez’s final stretch now runs in parallel with Portugal’s attempt to turn another tournament into silverware. The result is a rare blend of certainty and transition: a coach leaving on schedule, a federation looking ahead, and a team entering a World Cup campaign while its next chapter is already being mapped out.