Why Jose Mourinho might coach at the 2026 World Cup

As the 2024/2025 club football season gradually comes to a close, reports of Jose Mourinho featuring at the 2026 World Cup have emerged.

According to CNN, Jose Mourinho, who is currently at Fenerbahce, is reportedly on the verge of replacing Roberto Martinez as Portugal's national team head coach ahead of the 2026 World Cup and its ongoing qualifiers.

This unexpected development could lead to a reunion between Mourinho and Cristiano Ronaldo, with the two having previously worked together at Real Madrid from 2010 to 2013. Despite past tensions during their time in Spain, managing Ronaldo is not expected to be a problem for Mourinho.

The Portuguese Football Federation is preparing to appoint Mourinho this summer, giving him ample time to shape the squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup in North America.

Talks have continued despite Portugal’s progress to the 2025 Nations League semi-finals in June, with Martinez still set to oversee that fixture as well as either the final or third-place play-off. However, reports indicate that a decision has already been made to implement the managerial change once those matches conclude.

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