Portugal World Cup Team Preview | Portugal WC Odds

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

5 minute read

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CONTENTS

• Portugal Odds: To Win World Cup
• Portugal: Road to the Final
• Portugal Previous World Cup Finishes
• Golden Boot Odds
• FAQ

Portugal Odds: To Win World Cup

Portugal has never won the World Cup. And for a nation so steeped in footballing history, it’s quite remarkable Portugal hasn’t even reached the World Cup final. This could change at the World Cup, where Fernando Santos’ team is expecting to make a big impact this winter.

After all, with Cristiano Ronaldo, Joao Felix, Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva in the team, Portugal is considered a major force for the upcoming tournament. The issue, though, is their defensive woes that could come back to haunt them in Group H.

This will be no easy tournament and Portugal are outsiders with soccer betting sites to win a first-ever World Cup. Their best previous result was third place in 1966, and they’ve only once reached the semi-finals since.

So, can Portugal win the World Cup this year? Perhaps. The online sportsbooks don’t have them as one of the favorites. But with Ronaldo leading their dangerous offence, anything is possible.

Odds Provided by BetMGM - Subject to Change

The latest World Cup odds give Portugal a 14.3% chance of winning the whole thing. Their price of +600 is similar to Argentina and England. This trio of teams are outside the better-priced two leading soccer nations - Brazil and France.

But this generation of Portugal players have already provided an against-the-odds shock. They won the 2016 European Championships against hosts France, and remain a deadly team on their day.

Whether they can rely on surprize, counter-punching soccer to win another major trophy remains to be seen. But the sportsbooks seem to have their price about right. Portugal is deadlier than Netherlands, Croatia and Morocco – the only big issue is at the back, where the team is prone to leaking goals.

Portugal: Road to the Final

Portugal has a difficult path to the World Cup final ahead of them. But it’s been helped by a top seeding for this tournament. Here’s how their route to the final could open up.

Pot Draw

Portugal made it into Pot 1 for the World Cup draw. That meant they would avoid the other seven top-seeded teams, which included England, Brazil and Germany. It also meant Portugal are firm favorites to win their group. 

Group Stage

Portugal were drawn in Group H of the World Cup, alongside South Korea, Ghana and Uruguay. It was a truly global group, with teams from four different continents. And Portugal tops it. They didn't win all three games – they lost to South Korea – but they won the group.

Potential Knockout Stage Games

The team faced Switzerland, runners-up of Group G. Portugal won the most convincing victory in the last 16 - 6:1. After that, they will face Morocco in the quarter-finals. Bypass them and a semi-final with France or England awaits. And if they reach the final? They’ll probably meet Brazil or Argentina.

Portugal Previous World Cup Finishes

Portugal had to wait a long time to play its first World Cup. And even after the country’s debut in 1966, it was still 20 more years until they reached the World Cup again. Here’s Portugal’s full World Cup record…

• 1966 – Third place
• 1986 – Group stage
• 2002 – Group Stage
• 2006 – Fourth place
• 2010 – Last-16
• 2014 – Group stage
• 2018 – Last-16

Portugal Golden Boot Odds

Odds Provided by bet365 - Subject to Change

Portugal World Cup FAQ

Has Portugal qualified for the World Cup?

Yes. Portugal has qualified for the World Cup and will compete in Group H alongside Ghana, Uruguay and South Korea.

 Why Is the World Cup In November?

The World Cup is in November because it is being hosted in Qatar. Officials decided staging a World Cup in the Qatari summer would be infeasible because of the heat.

Can Portugal win the World Cup?

Sportsbooks currently think Portugal has an outside chance of winning the World Cup. However, Portugal’s odds are worse than the likes of England, Brazil and Spain.

What is Portugal’s best World Cup result?

Portugal’s best World Cup result was winning the third-place game in 1966. The country beat the Soviet Union 2-1 at Wembley Stadium to finish third. In 2006 Portugal reached the semi-finals again, but lost to France and then lost the third-place game to Germany.

Will Ronaldo play at the World Cup?

Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to play for Portugal at the World Cup. It will be the veteran’s fifth World Cup.

Who has the most World Cup goals for Portugal?

Many people assume Cristiano Ronaldo has the most World Cup goals for Portugal. But Eusebio actually has the most, with nine. All nine were scored in the 1966 World Cup.

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