Portugal secured its place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in spectacular fashion, thrashing Armenia 9-1 in their final Group F qualifier at the Estádio do Dragão in Porto on Sunday, November 16, 2025. The decisive victory ensured they finished top of their group with 13 points, booking an automatic ticket to the tournament co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The match, which kicked off at 10:45 PM EAT, was a must-win for Portugal following a surprising 2-0 loss to the Republic of Ireland days earlier. Despite the absence of suspended superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, Roberto Martínez’s squad showed no signs of pressure. Midfielders Bruno Fernandes and João Neves both delivered remarkable performances, each scoring a hat-trick. Renato Veiga, Gonçalo Ramos, and Francisco Conceição added a goal apiece to complete the rout.

Armenia’s lone goal came in the 18th minute from Eduard Spertsyan, which briefly leveled the score at 1-1 before Portugal unleashed its full attacking power. The result left Armenia at the bottom of Group F with just three points from six matches. The Republic of Ireland secured the group's playoff spot after a dramatic 3-2 victory over Hungary.

Global Context and Kenya's Path

Portugal’s qualification marks their seventh consecutive appearance at the World Cup finals. The emphatic win, even without Ronaldo, underscores the depth of talent in top-tier European national teams—a standard that nations like Kenya aspire to. The 2026 tournament will be the first to feature an expanded 48-team format, offering nine direct qualification spots for African nations (CAF), plus one spot in an inter-confederation playoff. This expansion theoretically increases the chances for teams that have never qualified, including Kenya's Harambee Stars.

The Harambee Stars are currently competing in the CAF qualification cycle, which involves a group stage followed by a potential playoff round for the best runners-up. As of their last matches, Kenya's campaign has been a mixed experience of tactical promise and disappointing results, highlighting the challenges in consistency and execution on the international stage. Recent qualifiers have shown the team's potential under their coaching staff but also exposed vulnerabilities, particularly in crucial home matches.

While European powerhouses like Portugal demonstrate clinical efficiency, the journey for African teams remains a grueling marathon. For Kenya, every point is critical in a competitive group. The national team's progress is a subject of intense public interest, with fans closely following the tactical decisions and player performances that will determine if Kenya can make a historic first-ever appearance at the World Cup finals. As the global qualification picture becomes clearer, the performance of teams like Portugal serves as both an inspiration and a benchmark for the level required to compete at the highest echelon of international football.