How to win friends (and integrate with people) – Portugal Resident

Let’s today change our focus from the shifting goal posts of nationality, and look at the national team instead, and in doing so, find an organic and authentic way to feel like a true Português. For Portugal’s 2026 World Cup squad was officially announced recently – causing a very particular, electric kind of buzz across the land (and diaspora) – one that can touch you too.

This week, we’re looking at how to get in on the impending football action that will likely build to fever pitch over the next few weeks, completely enveloping the nation, giving you the opportunity to connect with your football-flavoured Portuguese soul. Chances are you are either new to the country, new to the sport (especially if you grew up calling it ‘soccer’), or both. So, pull up a chair, ideally one of those delightfully rickety, sun-faded plastic ones outside your local café, because that’s where you could be seeing the action from, and let’s get familiar with the national fixation that’s going international.

This is your easy, no-nonsense guide to joining the unfolding futebol festa. No prior knowledge is required; just bring some passion, a splash of red and green, and a willingness to shout yourself hoarse. 

First, a quick bit of history so you don’t feel entirely lost when everything kicks off (in a good way) at your local café or bar…

Portugal’s national team is known as ‘A Seleção das Quinas’, literally the “Team of the Shields,” a nod to the five blue shields on the Portuguese flag. These guys, in whatever historic or technical formation they manifest themselves, have a knack for turning up the heat when it matters most. 

Older generations may still talk about the magical third-place finish in 1966, fuelled by the legendary Eusébio. More recently, we had the unforgettable Euro glory of 2016, and various Nations League triumphs. Now, we have a squad that has the entire country talking, led by a captain and a coach who desperately want to cap their careers at the absolute apex of global football.

Coach Roberto Martínez revealed his 27-man squad on May 19, whereupon mainstream and social media lit up like a village festa stage in mid-August. Poignantly, in his press conference, Martínez touchingly referred to his selection as “27 + 1” – a beautiful, albeit sad tribute to the late, great player Diogo Jota, who tragically lost his life last year in a horrific car crash alongside his brother in Spain.

If you want to blend in seamlessly with locals, you’ll need to know who you’re looking at, so here is your cheat-sheet of the names that will dominate TV coverage and commentary in June, and hopefully way beyond. Cristiano Ronaldo, at 41, remains captain, and talisman, embarking on his historic sixth World Cup. To the Portuguese, he is simply ‘Cristiano’, ‘CR7’ or ‘The GOAT’. This tournament is universally expected to be his international swansong, injecting an immense dose of emotion into every single minute he plays.

Bruno Fernandes will be pulling the creative strings in midfield, while exciting, energetic young guns like Neves and Vitinha provide the youthful lungs to complement the veteran legends. Rúben Dias will be marshalling the defence, as he does for Manchester City. Alongside him, look out for Gonçalo Inácio and young left-back Nuno Mendes. Holding down the fort in goal is the formidable Diogo Costa. Up front, expect fireworks from Rafael Leão, João Félix and Gonçalo Ramos.

Organisationally, Portugal find themselves in Group K as the great journey to hoped-for glory begins on the other side of the Atlantic. Mark your calendars for these three initial group stage matches: June 17 vs DR Congo in Houston; June 23 vs Uzbekistan in Houston; June 27 vs Colombia in Miami.

Socially and culturally, it doesn’t get more exciting than this; the footballing equivalent of a papal visit or Portugal winning the Eurovision Song Contest. And given the time zones in the US, Canada and Mexico, these games will be broadcast in the late afternoon or evening here in Portugal, which is a perfect social fit. Quite frankly, the perfect window for a cold imperial or a refreshing Porto Tónico as you enter the dojo of World Cup drama.

On that note, where should you watch? Anywhere, literally anywhere. Step inside your local village bar, the neighbourhood pastelaria, or even the central plaza of your local shopping centre. Huge screens will be erected, and there will be no escape. I am entirely confident that if you sit through these three opening games in public, you will be utterly hooked, and you may also make a bunch of lifelong “Cup companions” by the final whistle.

Supporting A Seleção, as a foreigner, is a fast track to true integration, beyond the now thorny and bitter bureaucratic route. Go grab yourself a team shirt, the safest bet: the Ronaldo classic ‘Number 7’. Start warming up by wearing it to your local supermarket and I guarantee you will get nods, smiles, thumbs-ups and even high-fives from complete strangers. Pair it with a green and red scarf for those cooler evening walk-homes, and you are good to go.

Don’t worry about being fluent in Portuguese; football fan culture here relies on beautiful simplicity. Try a “Por-tu-gal! Por-tu-gal!” chant for starters and throw in an occasional “Força Portugal!” exclamation (Pronounced: FOR-sah por-too-GAHL) for added cred and bonding, meaning “Come on Portugal!” or “Power to Portugal!”. On the way, knowingly share a “Vamos lá!” (Pronounced: VAH-mosh lah), meaning “Let’s go!”. Alternatively, drop this one into conversation whenever the energy in the café starts to drop or a referee’s decision goes against us.

For estrangeiros, watching the ninety minutes of football is only half the fun. The real joy is in witnessing your Portuguese neighbours at their most passionate, vulnerable, and expressive best. Football culture here is fiercely loyal but wonderfully family-friendly. Look at what happens when the team lines up and sings the national anthem, A Portuguesa. Watch the players place their hands over their hearts, look around the room, and you’ll get goosebumps realizing that you too are now a small part of the history and culture that made this moment.

So, let’s put that paperwork to one side for 90 minutes, grab your scarf, don the jersey, choose your local vantage point, and get ready. The ‘Seleção’ are on the other side of the world, playing their hearts out, but they’ll hear us cheering from this side of the Atlantic.

Vamos lá!

Read Carl Munson’s previous article: Palm Springs of Portugal