Portugal are close to finalising plans for a pre-World Cup friendly against Nigeria, with discussions between the two federations understood to be at an advanced stage ahead of a proposed meeting in June.
According to available information, the match is expected to form part of Portugal’s preparations for the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.
The friendly is provisionally scheduled for June 6 and is likely to take place in Lisbon, pending the resolution of remaining logistical details.
Although Nigeria will not feature at the expanded World Cup finals, the Super Eagles remain a sought-after opponent for qualified nations.
The West African side finished third at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco and earned plaudits for their performances despite missing out on qualification after defeat to DR Congo in the African play-off final.
Those recent displays have increased Nigeria’s appeal as high-quality opposition for teams seeking competitive preparation ahead of the global tournament.
Portugal are among those keen to test themselves against the Super Eagles, viewing the fixture as a valuable opportunity to sharpen their squad against African opposition.
The Portuguese Football Federation and its Nigerian counterpart have reached an agreement in principle, although final confirmation is still subject to the completion of outstanding formalities.
Portugal already know two of their three opponents in the final phase of World Cup preparations, with Colombia and Uzbekistan confirmed.
A third match could also be added to their schedule, potentially against the Democratic Republic of Congo.
That fixture would depend on the Leopards winning their upcoming play-off against the winner of New Caledonia versus Jamaica, a tie scheduled for March 26, before a possible meeting on March 31 in Guadalajara, Mexico.
The proposed friendly against Nigeria would not be without recent precedent.
The two sides last met on November 17, 2022, as Portugal fine-tuned their preparations for the World Cup in Qatar.
On that occasion, the Seleção recorded a convincing 4-0 victory at Lisbon’s José Alvalade Stadium, with Bruno Fernandes scoring twice and further goals coming from Gonçalo Ramos and João Mário.
While that encounter ended decisively in Portugal’s favour, a new meeting would offer both teams a different context.
For Portugal, it would serve as a key rehearsal ahead of football’s biggest tournament, while Nigeria would have the chance to measure themselves against elite opposition as they continue to rebuild following their World Cup qualification disappointment.
