Portugal vs game today lands in the last-32 at the 2026 World Cup, and Cristiano Ronaldo goes into it under scrutiny after Portugal managed two draws in three games. Croatia are waiting on Thursday, and the matchup has gone from routine to demanding for Roberto Martínez’s side.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal
Ronaldo is 41-year-old and still central to Portugal’s search for firepower. Martínez needs more from him against a Croatia side that has already played three matches at the tournament and brings experience into a knockout game.
Portugal were expected to face Ghana in this round before the tie changed to Croatia. That switch matters because the opponent now comes with Luka Modric and Mateo Kovačić in midfield, plus Joško Gvardiol and Josip Stanišić giving Croatia elite-level quality at the back.
Croatia in the World Cup
The shape of the draw makes this a different kind of test for Portugal. Croatia are not coming in as a soft landing after the group stage; they are arriving after three matches and with the kind of tournament know-how that has made knockout ties harder to manage than table positions suggest.
For Portugal, the problem is simple. Two draws in three games left the group stage looking underwhelming, and that has pushed extra weight onto Ronaldo’s form just as the margin for error disappears.
Fox, Telemundo and FS1
Fans in the United States can watch the Portugal game on FS1 and Telemundo. The broader schedule also includes Spain against Austria in Los Angeles on Thursday, while the 2026 World Cup final is set for 19 July.
Portugal need the result to start matching the name on the team sheet. If Ronaldo sharpens up, Martínez gets a cleaner route through Croatia; if not, the pressure will stay locked on a 41-year-old forward in a knockout match that already looks tight.
