SEKADAU – The Deputy Chairman of PSSI Sekadau, Liri Muri, has placed his confidence in Portugal as the team capable of claiming the world championship title.
He predicted that Cristiano Ronaldo and his teammates would secure victory in their opening group-stage match.
Portugal has been drawn into Group K alongside the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uzbekistan, and Colombia.
Their first opponent in the group stage will be the DR Congo national team.
Ahead of the match, Liri expressed confidence that the Selecao das Quinas would start the tournament with a strong result.
"In my prediction, Portugal will win at least 3-0. I am confident because of the quality of their squad," said Liri Muri on Wednesday, June 3, 2026.
According to him, Portugal remains one of the nations that should be taken seriously in the world’s biggest football competition.
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Beyond individual talent, Liri believes that the team’s cohesion is their greatest strength, giving them a real chance to go deep in the tournament.
"If you ask me which team I support, it will always be Portugal. Win or lose, Portugal remains my team," he added.
Liri revealed that he has been a Portugal supporter for a long time.
One of his main reasons is the leadership of captain Cristiano Ronaldo, who continues to represent the national team despite his advancing age.
"Even though he’s no longer young, Cristiano Ronaldo is still active on the pitch and continues to be called up to the national team. That’s one of the reasons I support Portugal as my favourite team," he explained.
He also firmly believes that Portugal is capable of lifting the World Cup trophy in the 2026 edition.
"Of course, I’m confident Portugal will lift the trophy. It wouldn’t make sense to back Portugal and then say another country will win," he said.
However, Liri acknowledged that the competition at the 2026 World Cup will be very tight.
This year’s tournament features 48 participating nations divided into 12 groups, giving every team a chance to create surprises.
As a devoted Portugal supporter, he hopes Ronaldo and his teammates can maintain their best performance from the opening match through to the final.
"Predictions are fine, but the final result will be decided on the pitch. We’ll see how the matches unfold. What’s certain is that I’ll keep supporting Portugal," Liri concluded.
The 2026 World Cup will be the largest tournament in FIFA history, featuring a new format with 48 participating nations.
The prestigious event will take place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 12 to July 20, 2026, with a total of 104 matches over 39 days.
The new format divides teams into 12 groups of four, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the Round of 32.
The knockout rounds will then continue through the Round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the grand final.
The final match is scheduled for July 20, 2026, at the New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium), which is expected to be one of the most historic fixtures in world football.
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Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa, José Sá, Rui Silva, Ricardo Velho
Defenders: Diogo Dalot, Matheus Nunes, Nélson Semedo, João Cancelo, Nuno Mendes, Gonçalo Inácio, Renato Veiga, Rúben Dias, Tomás Araújo
Midfielders: Rúben Neves, Samuel Costa, João Neves, Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva
Forwards: João Félix, Trincão, Francisco Conceição, Pedro Neto, Rafael Leão, Gonçalo Guedes, Gonçalo Ramos, Cristiano Ronaldo
Portugal vs DR Congo – Wednesday, June 18, 2026, 01:00 WIB – NRG Stadium, Houston, USA
Portugal vs Uzbekistan – Wednesday, June 24, 2026, 01:00 WIB – NRG Stadium, Houston, USA
Colombia vs Portugal – Sunday, June 28, 2026, 06:30 WIB – Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, USA
Number of participants: 48 nations (a record in FIFA history).
Groups: 12 groups × 4 teams.
Group stage: June 12–28, 2026.
Round of 32: June 29–July 4, 2026.
Round of 16: July 5–8, 2026.
Quarter-finals: July 10–12, 2026.
Semi-finals: July 15–16, 2026.
Final: July 20, 2026, at New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium).
