FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)---Portugal VS Ireland Prediction

Portugal VS Ireland    Livescore / H2H stats and Live Streaming
Time:12-10-2025 02:45 Sunday
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Match Preview:
After winning an unprecedented second UEFA Nations League title in June, Portugal kick-started their World Cup qualification campaign with back-to-back victories over Armenia and Hungary last month, scoring eight goals in the process.

Selecao das Quinas cruised to a 5-0 away win over Armenia on matchday one, before they left it late to seal maximum points against Hungary, with Joao Cancelo netting an 86th-minute winner in a 3-2 away victory.

Portugal are ‘working towards a dream’ to win their first ever World Cup next summer and head coach Roberto Martinez has revealed that he ‘believes in numbers’, particularly the number six after referring to Portugal’s best performance at the World Cup in 1966 (finishing third) and winning Euro 2016.

Not since 2006 have the Republic of Ireland qualified for the World Cup and they already face an uphill battle to secure their spot at the 2026 tournament, after collecting just one point from their opening two matches in Group F.

The Boys in Green came from two goals behind to rescue a 2-2 draw at home to 10-man Hungary on matchday one last month, before they were outplayed in a humbling 2-1 away defeat to an Armenian outfit ranked 45 places below them in the FIFA World Rankings.

Heimir Hallgrimsson's side are determined to put things right, with midfielder Finn Azaz acknowledging that the players "know we have let people down and let ourselves down" with recent performances in qualifying.

Match Prediction:
Hallgrimsson has admitted that his job is at risk and the pressure is mounting on the Ireland boss to pick up valuable points in World Cup qualifying. However, it is difficult to envisage the Boys in Green claiming any form of positive result against a strong Portugal outfit that should ultimately have too much quality for the visitors.