Portugal embraces World Cup expectations and carries Jota’s memory into tournament

Ahead of their first training session in the United States, the team received a heartfelt gesture from Portugal's Prime Minister. Each player was gifted a bracelet bearing their name and the name of the late Diogo Jota, a regular on the squad who was tragically killed in a car crash last July. Coach Roberto Martínez also included Jota as an honorary team member for the tournament.

The squad arrived in Florida and began preparations, with fans present to cheer them on. Temperatures in Palm Beach were in the upper 80s Fahrenheit, raising concerns about the impact of extreme heat across the tournament's host cities. Vitinha acknowledged the weather's effect on play but stressed that it is a challenge for all teams, emphasizing that there are no excuses at a World Cup.

Players were seen hydrating during training, and Vitinha noted the importance of using the conditions to mentally reset, suggesting they had also spent time at the beach to unwind.