World Cup 2026: Roberto Martinez to step down as Portugal boss after tournament

Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez has decided to leave his position after the ongoing 2026 World Cup tournament in North America.

Martinez has chosen not to renew his contract, which officially expires this summer, meaning his tenure with the Seleção das Quinas will end regardless of how the team performs on the world stage.

The timing of the revelation adds an unexpected layer of drama for a star-studded Portugal squad captained by Cristiano Ronaldo.

The team is currently in Texas preparing to launch their Group K campaign against DR Congo on June 17 at Houston Stadium.

Martínez, 52, took over the Portuguese national team in January 2023. Under his stewardship, the team featured in Euro 2024 but got eliminated in the quarter-finals. He has, however, built a highly competitive, attacking identity around a golden generation of talent, including Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Rúben Dias, and Vitinha.

While his primary focus remains entirely on guiding Portugal to its first-ever World Cup trophy over the next month, his camp has made it clear that this tournament will serve as his grand finale.

Sources close to the manager indicate that Martínez is highly motivated by a return to club management, with the English Premier League being a primary target.

Martínez is a familiar and respected figure in British football, having famously guided Wigan Athletic to an FA Cup triumph in 2013 before spending three years at the helm of Everton.

However, the Spaniard is keeping his options open. He has reportedly not ruled out taking another high-profile international job if the right project presents itself. Before managing Portugal, Martínez spent six years leading Belgium's "Golden Generation", taking them to a historic third-place finish at the 2018 World Cup and a world No. 1 FIFA ranking.