Jorge Jesus names 28-man Portugal squad for final Nations League Group A4 matches

Jorge Jesus named a 28-man Portugal squad on 6 November 2026 for the national team's final UEFA Nations League Group A4 matches, the first selection following Cristiano Ronaldo’s retirement from international football. The list includes first senior call-ups and several players returning to the setup, while notable absences are explained by injury and suspension.

The squad features right-back Alberto Costa of FC Porto and Monza attacker Gustavo Varela, both receiving their first senior call-ups. Varela arrives having scored nine goals this season and is leading the Serie A scoring lists. Joao Cancelo will be unavailable for the opening group match against Denmark because of a ban but remains eligible for the fixture against Wales. Jorge Jesus has made deliberate changes described as strategic and tactical, leaving out Gonçalo Inácio and adding seven new or returning players, among them Alberto Costa and António Silva.

Francisco Conceição was omitted from the squad due to a combination of disciplinary and medical issues: he received a red card during Portugal’s 2-1 victory over Norway in October after being shown two yellow cards for disobedience and harsh language, and UEFA has imposed a three-match ban that will rule him out of the next group-stage matches against Denmark and Wales as well as the first leg of the Nations League quarterfinals in March. In addition to the suspension, Conceição is sidelined with a dislocated left shoulder sustained while playing for Juventus against Lazio, further preventing his inclusion.

Paris Saint-Germain left-back Nuno Mendes was not selected because of an injury described as a knock sustained during club play, which has left him sidelined for the November Nations League fixtures. The medical absence of the left-back was cited explicitly by the coaching staff when finalising the roster.

Joao Cancelo’s situation is limited to a match suspension that covers only the first game against Denmark; he remains in the squad and is available for the Wales match. Separately, Jorge Jesus made a tactical decision to exclude Gonçalo Inácio from the November list as part of a broader adjustment to the squad makeup.

The coach’s changes include seven new or returning players, with Alberto Costa and António Silva among those integrated into the group for the concluding Group A4 games. The announcement of the call-ups was published with the roster tweet: "Os convocados para os próximos desafios da Liga das Nações 2026/27 🗺️👀 #NationsLeague pic.twitter.com/ANBq1844PQ"

Portugal will now prepare for the final Group A4 matches against Denmark and Wales with the selected 28-man squad, while suspended and injured players will be unavailable for those fixtures and, in Conceição’s case, for the first leg of the Nations League quarterfinals in March.