FC Barcelona defender João Cancelo earned a spot in Roberto Martínez's 26-man squad for the upcoming World Cup. Cancelo, on loan from Saudi club Al-Hilal, has delivered impressive performances for Barça since January, contributing to their league title win under coach Hansi Flick. This marks Cancelo's second World Cup appearance, following his participation in the 2022 Qatar tournament where Portugal reached the quarter-finals.

Portugal is considered a strong contender for the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico, and Canada. Alongside Cancelo, the squad features notable players like Nuno Mendes, João Neves, Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes, and Cristiano Ronaldo, making them a team to watch. Cancelo is the third Barça player selected for a World Cup squad, joining Jules Kounde for France and Raphinha for Brazil.