Soccer-Portugal qualify for World Cup with 9-1 thrashing of Armenia

Soccer Football - World Cup - UEFA Qualifiers - Group F - Portugal v Armenia - Estadio do Dragao, Porto, Portugal - November 16, 2025 Portugal's Renato Veiga scores their first goal REUTERS/Pedro Nunes

PORTO (Reuters) -Portugal qualified for the 2026 World Cup on Sunday with a 9-1 hammering of Armenia that included hat-tricks from both Bruno Fernandes and Joao Neves.

The reigning Nations League champions were forced to wait to book an automatic spot after losing 2-0 to Ireland on Thursday in a game where their captain Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off.