Bruno Fernandes is expecting a hostile reception in Miami when Portugal face already-qualified Colombia despite the presence of global superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.
Thousands of Colombian fans are expected to descend on the Hard Rock Stadium to watch their team go in search of the point they require to finish top of World Cup Group K.
The wins over Uzbekistan and DR Congo were staged in Mexico, meaning this is the first opportunity for US-based Colombians to witness Nestor Lorenzo’s men in the flesh.
And Manchester United captain Fernandes accepts it will be a see of yellow in South Floria tomorrow night.
“I think that against Colombia there will be more Colombians than people who want Portugal to win, but that’s fine, that’s football,” he said.
“There will be games in which we have more people in our favour and others in which we don’t, but that’s part of football.”
Portugal need a win to usurp Colombia in top spot and they will go into the game with plenty of confidence after a morale-boosting 5-0 win over Uzbekistan last time out.
Boss Roberto Martinez stuck with under-fire striker Ronaldo and his patience was rewarded with the Al-Nassr man netting twice to become Portugal’s leading goalscorer at World Cups and the first man ever to score at six World Cup tournaments.
Arguably, just as important, was the fact it stopped the noise around Ronaldo and his worth to the team.
“It was important for our captain to score. For us it was essential that he scored. He is our key player in attack. We are very happy for him,” added Fernandes.
| P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS | |
| Colombia | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Portugal | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 4 |
| DR Congo | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 1 |
| Uzbekistan | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 8 | -7 | 0 |
World Cup 2026: Colombia v Portugal team news
Lorenzo is likely to keep changes to a minimum and attempt to get a positive result to keep momentum high heading into the knockout phase. Striker Luis Suarez has overcome a shoulder problem and should start.
Portugal defender Tomas Araujo is a major doubt meaning Renato Veiga and Ruben Dias will again be the central defensive pairing.
Colombia v Portugal World Cup 2026 predicted line-ups
Colombia: Vargas; Munoz, Sanchez, Lucumi, Mojica; Puerta, Arias, Lerma; J Rodriguez, L Suarez, Diaz
Portugal: D Costa; Cancelo, Dias, Veiga, Mendes; Vitinha, Fernandes, J Neves; Neto, Ronaldo, Felix
Where to watch Colombia v Portugal: TV channel, live online streams
Kick-off on Sunday is at 00:30 BST (19:30 ET on Saturday / 16:30 PT on Saturday). In the UK, live TV coverage is on BBC One.
Streaming on a vast range of devices is available through the BBC iPlayer app and BBC Sport website.
World Cup 2026: Colombia v Portugal stats
- None of Colombia’s World Cup matches have ended 0-0; only Austria (29) have featured in more World Cup matches without a goalless draw
- Only Argentina (31) scored more goals than Colombia (28) in CONMEBOL qualifying. They scored more headers (7) than any other nation
- Lionel Messi (8) is the only player to have scored more than Colombia’s Luis Diaz (7) in South American qualifying
- James Rodriguez led the assist charts with seven, which was three more than any other player
- Colombia boss Nestor Lorenzo is at his first World Cup as a coach but is one of three managers at the 2026 tournament to have played in a final at the tournament, having featured for Argentina in the 1990 showpiece against West Germany
- Lorenzo guided Colombia to their first Copa America final in 23 years in 2024, losing after extra time to Argentina
- Since Portugal’s best ever World Cup finish – third place in 1966 – their only other semi-final appearance has been in 2006, exiting against France before losing the third-place match to hosts Germany
- Portugal are one of five European teams to have made an appearance at every World Cup
since 2002, alongside England, France, Germany and Spain - They have reached the knockout stage at four of the last five World Cup tournaments and scored in 10 of their last 11 matches at the finals, the exception being their 1-0 quarter-final defeat to Morocco in 2022
- Cristiano Ronaldo is the only player to have scored at six World Cup tournaments and the only player – alongside Messi – to appear at six editions
- Selecao head coach Roberto Martínez is at his third World Cup as a head coach, having guided Belgium to a third-place finish in 2018 and a group-stage exit in 2022
- Martinez is the third non-Portuguese head coach to lead the team at the finals, after Brazilians Otto Gloria and Luiz Felipe Scolari
