Ahead of 2026 FIFA World Cup, Jose Mourinho linked to Portugal job and possible reunion with Criano Ronaldo

The Portuguese football federation officials have ‘established contact’ with Jose Mourinho and made him their top candidate to coach the national team at next year’s FIFA World Cup.
Mourinho is currently the manager of Turkish club Fenerbahce, who are locked in an intense title battle. His side trails Galatasaray just three points with seven matches left to play.
According to CNN Portugal, the country’s football federation is willing to pay Fenerbahce the release clause fees, which would allow Mourinho to replace the current Portugal manager, Roberto Martinez. Goal, meanwhile, reported that the deal is ‘close’ to being finalised.
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If successful, this could lead to a possible reunion of Mourinho and Criano Ronaldo. The duo led Real Madrid to great heights during their three seasons together from 2010 to 2013 but had a bitter fallout at Manchester United.
However, months after the rumours of Ronaldo making a shock move from the Saudi league to Fenerbahce died down, it now emerges that the pair could once again work together with the national team.
Portuguese media reported that the national team’s march to the UEFA Nations League semifinals, where they will face Germany on June 4, has not hampered the talks. Mourinho, it is reported, is expected to take over the national team immediately after the Nations League, giving him an entire year with Portugal before the World Cup begins in USA, Canada and Mexico.
Mourinho has never hidden his desire to coach Portugal and in 2019, he said: “It’s something I’d like to do before I finish (my career), but since I still have a long way to go, it won’t happen now—and we’ll see if the opportunity comes or not.”Story continues below this ad
In his storied career as a manager, Mourinho has coached teams like Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur. However, he has never coached a national team so far.