Portuguese Football Federation President Pedro Proença posted on social media about Portugal's elimination in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 in 2026. He stated that this result was below expectations and inconsistent with the team's player strength. However, in this post, Proença did not mention head coach Roberto Martínez, whose departure has already been confirmed.

Proença wrote: "When we proposed to be strong contenders for the FIFA World Cup title, it was because we believed in the strength of our players and in the talent this group of players possesses, which is rarely seen in our history. 'Vai Dar Portugal' is not just a slogan, but an emotion that unites all Portuguese people.

Our performance in the 2026 FIFA World Cup was below expectations. Even against very strong opponents, being eliminated at such an early stage does not match the strength of our players. Football is cruel, but it also teaches us a truth. When we win, we are not the best; when we lose, we are not the worst. Every game has lessons to be learned and summarized. There is no success without a process, and this process is already underway and will lead us to success.

On behalf of the Portuguese Football Federation, I thank all the fans who supported Portugal. Whether in the United States, Canada, Portugal, or around the world, the wave of green and red was impressive. In September, we will start the UEFA Nations League qualifiers. We will continue to be strong and move forward."

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