SEKADAU – The Deputy Chairman of PSSI Sekadau, Liri Muri, has named Portugal as his top pick to win the world title.
He predicted that Cristiano Ronaldo and his teammates would secure victory in their opening group stage match.
Portugal has been placed in Group K alongside the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uzbekistan, and Colombia.
Their first opponent in the group stage will be DR Congo.
As the match approaches, Liri expressed confidence that the Selecao das Quinas would start the tournament with a strong result.
“My prediction is at least a 3-0 win for Portugal. I’m optimistic because of the quality of their squad,” said Liri Muri on Wednesday, 3 June 2026.
He added that Portugal remains one of the nations to watch in the world’s biggest football competition.
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According to him, in addition to having high-quality players, team chemistry is Portugal’s biggest strength, which could carry them deep into the tournament.
“If you ask about my favourite team, it’s definitely Portugal. Win or lose, it’s always Portugal,” he added.
Liri revealed that he has supported Portugal for a long time.
One of his main reasons is the team’s captain, Cristiano Ronaldo, who continues to represent the national team despite his advancing age.
“Although he’s not young anymore, Cristiano Ronaldo is still performing on the pitch and continues to be called up to the national team. That’s one of the reasons I chose Portugal as my favourite,” he explained.
He further expressed his belief that Portugal could lift the World Cup trophy in the 2026 edition.
“Of course, I believe Portugal will lift the trophy. It wouldn’t make sense for me to support Portugal and then say another country will win,” he said.
However, Liri admitted that the competition at the 2026 World Cup would be extremely tight.
This edition features 48 participating nations divided into 12 groups, giving every team the chance to spring surprises.
As a Portugal supporter, he hopes Ronaldo and his teammates will deliver their best performances from the opening match through to the final.
“Predictions are fine, but the final result depends on the game itself. We’ll see how it goes. What’s certain is that I’ll keep supporting Portugal,” he concluded.
For reference, the 2026 World Cup will be the largest tournament in FIFA history under a new format involving 48 nations.
The prestigious event will take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico from 12 June to 20 July 2026, featuring a total of 104 matches over 39 days.
The new format will divide teams into 12 groups of four, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the round of 32.
The competition will then proceed through the round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and ultimately the final.
The final will be held on 20 July 2026 at the New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium), expected to be one of the most historic matches in world football.
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Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa, Jose Sa, Rui Silva, Ricardo Velho
Defenders: Diogo Dalot, Matheus Nunes, Nelson Semedo, Joao Cancelo, Nuno Mendes, Goncalo Inacio, Renato Veiga, Ruben Dias, Tomas Araujo
Midfielders: Ruben Neves, Samuel Costa, Joao Neves, Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva
Forwards: Joao Felix, Trincao, Francisco Conceicao, Pedro Neto, Rafael Leao, Goncalo Guedes, Goncalo Ramos, Cristiano Ronaldo
Portugal vs DR Congo – Wednesday, 18 June 2026, 01:00 WIB – NRG Stadium, Houston, USA
Portugal vs Uzbekistan – Wednesday, 24 June 2026, 01:00 WIB – NRG Stadium, Houston, USA
Colombia vs Portugal – Sunday, 28 June 2026, 06:30 WIB – Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, USA
Number of participants: 48 nations (the largest in FIFA history).
Groups: 12 groups × 4 teams.
Group stage: 12–28 June 2026.
Round of 32: 29 June–4 July 2026.
Round of 16: 5–8 July 2026.
Quarter-finals: 10–12 July 2026.
Semi-finals: 15–16 July 2026.
Final: 20 July 2026 at New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium)
