<\/p>\n
Portugal unveils its squad without Cristiano<\/h2>\n![\"Cristiano](\"https:\/\/nuevaonda.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/portugal.jpg\")
PHOTO: Instagram of Portugal<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nGoalkeepers:<\/strong> Diogo Costa (Porto, POR), Rui Silva (Sporting de Portugal, POR), Jos\u00e9 S\u00e1 (Wolverhampton, ING).<\/p>\nDefenders:<\/strong> Matheus Nunes (Manchester City, ING), Diogo Dalot (Manchester United, ING), Jo\u00e3o Cancelo (FC Barcelona, ESP), Nuno Mendes (PSG, FRA), Gon\u00e7alo In\u00e1cio (Sporting, POR), Tom\u00e1s Ara\u00fajo (Benfica, POR), Ant\u00f3nio Silva (Benfica, POR), Renato Veiga (Villarreal, ESP).<\/p>\nMart\u00ednez anunci\u00f3 a los 27 convocados 'm\u00e1s uno'<\/p>Qu\u00e9Onnda.com<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\nMidfielders:<\/strong> Jo\u00e3o Neves (PSG, FRA), R\u00faben Neves (Al Hilal, KSA), Sam\u00fa Costa (Mallorca, ESP), Vitinha (PSG, FRA), Bruno Fernandes (Man. United, ING), Rodrigo Mora (Porto, POR), Mateus Fernandes (West Ham, ING).<\/p>\nForwards:<\/strong> Ricardo Horta (Braga, POR), Pedro Gon\u00e7alves (Sporting, POR), Jo\u00e3o F\u00e9lix (Al Nassr, KSA), Francisco Trinc\u00e3o (Sporting, POR), Francisco Concei\u00e7\u00e3o (Juventus, ITA), Pedro Neto (Chelsea, ING), Rafael Le\u00e3o (AC Milan, ITA), Gon\u00e7alo Guedes (Real Sociedad, ESP) and Gon\u00e7alo Ramos (PSG, FRA).<\/p>\nMexican fans without Ronaldo and Messi at the Azteca<\/h2>\n![\"CR7\"](\"https:\/\/nuevaonda.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/bicho-ok-2.jpg\")
PHOTO: Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe announcement that Cristiano Ronaldo will not be part of Portugal’s squad to face Mexico on March 28 at the Azteca Stadium closed a week of disappointment for Mexican fans.<\/p>\n
Sad because Lionel Messi will not play next April in the capital, as expected.<\/p>\n
With a hamstring injury, Cristiano Ronaldo was left out of Portugal’s squad for the friendly against the Mexicans.<\/p>\n
It will serve to open the Azteca after remodeling for the World Cup.<\/p>\n
Fans in Mexico City and some in the interior of the country, who were looking forward to seeing the Al-Nassr striker from Saudi Arabia play, woke up this Friday disappointed because the striker will not be coming to Mexico.<\/p>\n
And they will miss out on what may be one last chance to see him play in the country.<\/p>\n
The news came on top of the elimination two days ago of Messi’s Inter Miami team in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.<\/p>\n
This will frustrate the possibility of seeing him play against America in the quarterfinals of the competition.<\/p>\n
Bitter week in Mexico: without Messi, without Iran and with World Cup surprises<\/h2>\n![\"Messi\"](\"https:\/\/nuevaonda.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/messi-ok.jpg\")
PHOTO: Mezcalent<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nInter, one of the tournament favorites, was eliminated by Nashville SC, who will be America’s opponent for a place in the semifinals.<\/p>\n
Had Miami qualified for the quarterfinals, Messi would have been at the Azteca against the \u00c1guilas in April, in the Copa’s best eight phase.<\/p>\n
This week FIFA also announced that Iran will not play the World Cup on Mexican soil as had been speculated.<\/p>\n
After the Iranians requested a change of venue for their World Cup matches, scheduled for the United States, due to security concerns.<\/p>\n
FIFA refused to modify the schedule, which will keep Iraq in the United States and Mexico with 13 World Cup matches in the capital, Guadalajara and Monterrey.<\/p>\n
This month, Mexico will host two World Cup fishing series.<\/p>\n
Next March 26, in Guadalajara, New Caledonia will face Jamaica and the winner will seek a place in the World Cup on March 31 against Congo.<\/p>\n
In Monterrey, Bolivia-Suriname will face each other on the 26th and the best team will challenge Iraq on the 31st for a ticket to the World Cup.<\/p>\n
Goalkeepers:<\/strong> Diogo Costa (Porto, POR), Rui Silva (Sporting de Portugal, POR), Jos\u00e9 S\u00e1 (Wolverhampton, ING).<\/p>\n Defenders:<\/strong> Matheus Nunes (Manchester City, ING), Diogo Dalot (Manchester United, ING), Jo\u00e3o Cancelo (FC Barcelona, ESP), Nuno Mendes (PSG, FRA), Gon\u00e7alo In\u00e1cio (Sporting, POR), Tom\u00e1s Ara\u00fajo (Benfica, POR), Ant\u00f3nio Silva (Benfica, POR), Renato Veiga (Villarreal, ESP).<\/p>\n Mart\u00ednez anunci\u00f3 a los 27 convocados 'm\u00e1s uno'<\/p>Qu\u00e9Onnda.com<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n Midfielders:<\/strong> Jo\u00e3o Neves (PSG, FRA), R\u00faben Neves (Al Hilal, KSA), Sam\u00fa Costa (Mallorca, ESP), Vitinha (PSG, FRA), Bruno Fernandes (Man. United, ING), Rodrigo Mora (Porto, POR), Mateus Fernandes (West Ham, ING).<\/p>\n Forwards:<\/strong> Ricardo Horta (Braga, POR), Pedro Gon\u00e7alves (Sporting, POR), Jo\u00e3o F\u00e9lix (Al Nassr, KSA), Francisco Trinc\u00e3o (Sporting, POR), Francisco Concei\u00e7\u00e3o (Juventus, ITA), Pedro Neto (Chelsea, ING), Rafael Le\u00e3o (AC Milan, ITA), Gon\u00e7alo Guedes (Real Sociedad, ESP) and Gon\u00e7alo Ramos (PSG, FRA).<\/p>\n The announcement that Cristiano Ronaldo will not be part of Portugal’s squad to face Mexico on March 28 at the Azteca Stadium closed a week of disappointment for Mexican fans.<\/p>\n Sad because Lionel Messi will not play next April in the capital, as expected.<\/p>\n With a hamstring injury, Cristiano Ronaldo was left out of Portugal’s squad for the friendly against the Mexicans.<\/p>\n It will serve to open the Azteca after remodeling for the World Cup.<\/p>\n Fans in Mexico City and some in the interior of the country, who were looking forward to seeing the Al-Nassr striker from Saudi Arabia play, woke up this Friday disappointed because the striker will not be coming to Mexico.<\/p>\n And they will miss out on what may be one last chance to see him play in the country.<\/p>\n The news came on top of the elimination two days ago of Messi’s Inter Miami team in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.<\/p>\n This will frustrate the possibility of seeing him play against America in the quarterfinals of the competition.<\/p>\n Inter, one of the tournament favorites, was eliminated by Nashville SC, who will be America’s opponent for a place in the semifinals.<\/p>\n Had Miami qualified for the quarterfinals, Messi would have been at the Azteca against the \u00c1guilas in April, in the Copa’s best eight phase.<\/p>\n This week FIFA also announced that Iran will not play the World Cup on Mexican soil as had been speculated.<\/p>\n After the Iranians requested a change of venue for their World Cup matches, scheduled for the United States, due to security concerns.<\/p>\n FIFA refused to modify the schedule, which will keep Iraq in the United States and Mexico with 13 World Cup matches in the capital, Guadalajara and Monterrey.<\/p>\n This month, Mexico will host two World Cup fishing series.<\/p>\n Next March 26, in Guadalajara, New Caledonia will face Jamaica and the winner will seek a place in the World Cup on March 31 against Congo.<\/p>\n In Monterrey, Bolivia-Suriname will face each other on the 26th and the best team will challenge Iraq on the 31st for a ticket to the World Cup.<\/p>\nMexican fans without Ronaldo and Messi at the Azteca<\/h2>\n
Bitter week in Mexico: without Messi, without Iran and with World Cup surprises<\/h2>\n