Article by Alexandru Tomuțiu – Published Monday, June 01, 2026, 7:37 p.m. / Updated Monday, June 01, 2026, 7:38 p.m.
Ruben Neves (29), Al Hilal's midfielder, has great confidence that Portugal's national team can win the World Cup.
The midfielder believes that the tragic event that happened to Diogo Jota, who died a year ago after a car accident, can give the Lusitanians an extra boost.
Ruben Neves: “We have the strength to win the World Cup”
“I think we have talked a lot about this and we always say the same thing. Sometimes we need to hold on to something to find extra strength in the most difficult moments, and the tragedy of Diogo Jota can be one. It can help us get where we want to be.
All players are used to this kind of pressure. We had four players win the Champions League for the second time in a row. We are a young but experienced group. It is a positive pressure. We know we have quality,” said Ruben Neves, according to abola.pt.
Ruben Neves has commented on the call-up of Mallorca shot-stopper Samu Costa and talked about playing a lot of minutes at centre-back at Al Hilal.
Ruben Neves // photo: Imago Images
“Samu has been with us before, he's a plus for the national team. It's an advantage for any player to play in two positions. I played a lot of minutes as a central defender. It wouldn't be the first time I've played in that position for the national team.
I'm a midfielder, but I'm ready to play in any position,” he emphasized, talking about his goal at the World Cup: “The title is our goal. We're all focused on what we can win as a group. I won't be the best scorer for sure. We're focused on winning the World Cup,” he added.
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The 2026 World Championship will be held in 3 countries: USA, Mexico and Canada. It will take place between June 11 and July 19.
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It will be the first tournament in history with 48 teams.
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The tournament will feature a total of 104 matches over 38 days, making it the longest World Cup in history.
