Portugal are set to host Chile at Estádio Nacional on Sunday, June 7, 2026, at 01:45 WITA Lombok time, NTB, in an international friendly fixture. The home side, preparing for their World Cup campaign, will continue their final tune-up before the tournament kicks off next week.
While the European nation is gearing up for their seventh consecutive World Cup appearance later this month, the visitors have experienced a decline in recent years, missing the tournament for the third time in a row.
Portugal secured their World Cup berth in the United States in emphatic fashion last November, thrashing Armenia 9-1 at Estádio do Dragão to clinch the top spot in their qualifying group.
That result marked the second-biggest victory in Seleção das Quinas’ history, followed by a goalless draw against Mexico and a 2-0 win over the USA.
Heading into the global stage later this month, Portugal are among the favourites to claim the prestigious trophy, led by their talisman Cristiano Ronaldo, who will be making his historic sixth World Cup appearance.
For now, however, their main focus is on maintaining rhythm and fitness in this weekend’s clash and the subsequent friendly against Nigeria before their World Cup opener against the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Chile, on the other hand, endured a dismal qualifying campaign, recording just two wins from 18 matches and finishing bottom of the CONMEBOL standings.
La Roja participated in the FIFA Series in New Zealand during the last international break. After beating 10-man Cape Verde in their group opener, they received a red card themselves in the second match and suffered a 4-1 defeat against New Zealand.
Portugal are expected to use this friendly as a warm-up for the World Cup, with Diogo Costa likely starting in goal, backed by central defenders Ruben Dias and Goncalo Inacio.
Paris Saint-Germain stars Joao Neves, Vitinha, Nuno Mendes, and Goncalo Ramos will be unavailable for Sunday’s game. However, Ruben Neves and Samu Costa should feature in Roberto Martinez’s midfield, with Bruno Fernandes playing just ahead of them to link up with the attack.
Versatile playmaker Bernardo Silva is expected to start on the right wing, while Rafael Leao will operate on the left, both supporting captain Cristiano Ronaldo up front.
For Chile, former Liverpool youth goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux is likely to remain between the posts, with Guillermo Maripan and Francisco Sierralta forming the central defensive pairing.
Up front, Sao Paulo’s Gonzalo Tapia is expected to lead the line, flanked by Maximiliano Gutierrez and Matias Sepulveda.
Portugal: D Costa; Dalot, Dias, Inacio, Cancelo; R Neves, S Costa; Silva, Fernandes, Leao; Ronaldo
Chile: Vigouroux; Lichnovsky, Maripan, Sierralta, Suazo; Pizarro, Loyola; Gutierrez, Osorio, Sepulveda; Tapia
Home advantage, form, and overall squad quality all point to a Portugal victory on Sunday.
Chile will likely need something extraordinary to avoid a heavy defeat against a motivated Portuguese side eager to make a statement ahead of the World Cup.
Predicted Score: Portugal 3-1 Chile
Portugal will aim to build a solid foundation ahead of their World Cup opener on June 17, and it would be surprising if the hosts fail to secure a win.
Nevertheless, Chile have shown flashes of good form recently – even though they lost their last game – and could find the net if they capitalise on their chances.
Predicted Score: Portugal 3-1 Chile
Portugal enter this fixture in a far more stable condition compared to Chile. Roberto Martinez’s squad possesses a well-balanced mix of veterans and emerging talents, with strong motivation to maintain momentum before the World Cup.
Even without key players such as Vitinha, Nuno Mendes, Joao Neves, and Goncalo Ramos, Portugal still boast exceptional depth. With Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Rafael Leao, and Ruben Dias in their ranks, the team’s quality remains on a different level from their opponents.
Chile, meanwhile, are still searching for identity after their World Cup qualifying disappointment. Just two wins from 18 qualifying matches highlight their struggles in attack and consistency. The 4-1 loss to New Zealand in the recent FIFA Series also underlined their vulnerability against well-organised teams.
Given the proximity to the World Cup, Portugal are unlikely to go all-out for 90 minutes. Roberto Martinez’s focus will likely be on maintaining match rhythm, avoiding injuries, and ensuring key players get sufficient game time. This might result in a smaller margin of victory than many anticipate.
Chile, on the other hand, are expected to adopt a defensive approach to avoid conceding early. However, with Portugal’s superior ball control and Bruno Fernandes’s creativity in midfield, several scoring opportunities are likely to come their way.
TribunLombok Predicted Score: Portugal 2-0 Chile
