At the age of 41, Cristiano Ronaldo is seeking the only major trophy that has eluded him during a glittering career when the five-time Ballon d’Or winner captains a hotly-tipped Portugal side at the World Cup 2006.
But for a hat-trick against Spain during the 2018 group stage on the way to a last-16 exit, the all-time record scorer in international football would have never netted more than once at a tournament he has featured at on every occasion since 2006.
That sporadic success is only likely to fuel Ronaldo’s determination to shine for the Selecao, whose run 20 years ago was one of two World Cup tournaments at which they have reached the semi-finals, along with 1966.
Here’s the full confirmed and potential schedule for Ronaldo at the FIFA World Cup 2026. You can also find out the UK TV schedule for the games here.
Ronaldo World Cup fixtures: Confirmed schedule, kick off times
Portugal face DR Congo, Uzbekistan and Colombia during the group stage. Here’s when those games take place and their subsequent fixtures, as well as how to watch in the UK.
| Date | Match | Result | Stage | Time (BST) | ET | PT | Channel |
| June 17 | DR Congo | Group | 18:00 | 13:00 | 10:00 | BBC | |
| June 23 | Uzbekistan | Group | 18:00 | 13:00 | 10:00 | ITV | |
| June 28 | Colombia | Group | 00:30 | 19:30 | 16:30 | BBC | |
| July 1/2/3 | TBC | Round of 32 | TBC | TBC | TBC | TBC | |
| July 5/6/7 | TBC | Round of 16 | TBC | TBC | TBC | TBC | |
| July 10/11 | TBC | Quarter-finals | TBC | TBC | TBC | TBC | |
| July 14/15 | TBC | Semi-finals | TBC | TBC | TBC | TBC | |
| July 18 | TBC | Third-placed match | 22:00 | 17:00 | 14:00 | TBC | |
| July 19 | TBC | Final | 20:00 | 15:00 | 12:00 | BBC, ITV |
Is Ronaldo playing in the World Cup 2026? Injury news updates
Ronaldo sat out his nation’s first two matches of 2026 with a hamstring injury but started both of their warm-up games for the finals as captain, featuring for 45 minutes against Chile followed by a 65-minute outing against Nigeria.
Head coach Roberto Martinez has said the icon remains key for his side but could choose to use him selectively, as predecessor Fernando Santos did at the 2022 finals.
Portugal had started Ronaldo in each of their previous 18 matches at the finals before he came on as a second-half substitute in the last-16 win over Switzerland and quarter-final defeat to Morocco in Qatar.
The Real Madrid all-time top scorer called the 2026 edition “a new chapter”. “Every time we wear this jersey, we feel the same pride, passion and the same sense of responsibility from day one,” he added.
“We’ve worked hard to get to this moment and now it’s time to give our all for our country, and for all the Portuguese communities that support us here and around the world. Believe it like we do.”
Cristiano Ronaldo World Cup fixtures: Knockout stage, full bracket
Should Portugal justify their status as favourites to win their group, they will face a third-placed team from group D, E, I, J or L in the last 32.
Ronaldo’s team will meet the runners-up from that section if they come second and the team that wins it if they advance as one of the best-performing third-placed teams.
Group L contains England, Croatia, Ghana and Panama. You can see the full bracket on FIFA’s site.
Cristiano Ronaldo next match at FIFA World Cup 2026
Ronaldo’s next appearance at the World Cup is set to be in Portugal’s first game of the tournament against DR Congo on June 17 at 18:00 BST.
World Cup 2026: Will Cristiano Ronaldo lift the trophy?
Reigning Nations League champions Portugal are among the favourites to win the World Cup and have an immensely experienced squad.
Metronomic midfielder Vitinha was player of the match in Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League final win over Arsenal, joined by teammates left-back Nuno Mendes, playmaker Joao Neves and strikers Goncalo Ramos in becoming European champions.
Joao Felix has rediscovered some of the form that caused Atletico Madrid to pay £113 million for him in 2019 since joining Ronaldo at Al-Nassr and Portugal’s forwards should not struggle for supply from midfield, although they have historically struggled to break down deep-lying defences.
Manchester United’s creative inspiration, Bruno Fernandes, was the Premier League player of the season for 2025/26 and one of Manchester City’s toughest challenges next season will be working out how to replace the ingenious Bernardo Silva, who has joined Real Madrid.
Enterprising wideman Joao Cancelo, industrious and versatile United full-back Diogo Dalot and City centre-half Ruben Dias are among Martinez’s options at the back, ahead of goalkeeper and noted penalty-saver Diogo Costa.
Argentina – led by Ronaldo’s generational rival, Lionel Messi – Spain, France, England, Brazil and Germany are among the likeliest candidates Portugal will have to beat to the title if Ronaldo is to win one more trophy on what is almost certainly his international swansong.
Portugal World Cup 2026 squad: Full list of Ronaldo teammates
Here’s the squad Ronaldo leads at his sixth World Cup, having scored a total of eight goals in the history of the tournament before the start of the finals.
Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa (Porto), Jose Sa (Wolves), Rui Silva (Sporting), Ricardo Velho (Genclerbirligi)
Defenders: Diogo Dalot (Man United), Matheus Nunes (Man City), Ruben Dias (ManCity), Nelson Semedo (Fenerbahce), Joao Cancelo (Barcelona), Nuno Mendes (PSG), Goncalo Inacio (Sporting), Renato Veiga (Villarreal), Tomas Araujo (Benfica)
Midfielders: Ruben Neves (Al-Hilal), Samu Costa (Mallorca), Joao Neves (PSG), Vitinha (PSG), Bruno Fernandes (Man United), Bernardo Silva (Man City)
Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr), Joao Felix (Al-Nassr), Francisco Trincao (Sporting), Francisco Conceicao (Juventus), Pedro Neto (Chelsea), Rafael Leao (Milan), Goncalo Guedes (Real Sociedad), Goncalo Ramos (PSG)
