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Kylian Mbappé is aiming to claim his second World Cup title with France this summer, but he recently confessed that he "dreams" of going up against childhood hero Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal in North America during the tournament.
France is widely considered the top contender to lift the 2026 World Cup trophy, as Mbappé's remarkable World Cup record has guided Les Bleus to back-to-back finals. Portugal, however, fields an impressive squad, and the possibility of Ronaldo hoisting his first World Cup title this summer cannot be ruled out.
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Regardless, a showdown between the two European powerhouses would undoubtedly produce drama, as history has shown. Ronaldo claimed his first major international honor by defeating France in the 2016 Euros. In their most recent encounter, Mbappé's Bleus knocked Portugal out on penalties in the quarterfinals of Euro 2024.
Speaking ahead of the competition, Mbappé admitted he wants to face Ronaldo's Portugal "because it will be [Ronaldo's] last World Cup," teasing what could be a monumental potential matchup.
But just when could France and Portugal actually cross paths at the 2026 World Cup?
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When Could France Face Portugal in the 2026 World Cup
As two of the tournament's elite national sides, a potential France vs. Portugal encounter would most likely not take place until the latter and most decisive stages of the 2026 World Cup.
According to Opta, France and Portugal are strong favorites to top Group I and K, respectively, with France carrying a 60.4% probability and Portugal a 58.9% chance of finishing first in their groups. Should this projected outcome come to pass, Mbappé's dream fixture could only become reality in a potential World Cup final, as both nations would be placed on opposite sides of the knockout bracket.
Should either side stumble in the group stage and finish as runners-up, however, a France vs. Portugal clash could potentially occur at the semifinal stage — still deep within the knockout rounds.
The added complexity of the top eight third-place finishers also advancing to the knockout rounds, along with the introduction of a round of 32, makes a France vs. Portugal meeting unlikely unless both teams reach the semifinals or the final.
Kylian Mbappé Also Wants to Face Neymar
Ronaldo wasn't the only star Mbappé is eager to face at the 2026 World Cup. The French forward also expressed his desire to take on Brazil, giving him the chance to share the field with former PSG teammate Neymar Jr. in what could be the Brazilian's final World Cup.
France and Brazil last met at a World Cup during Germany 2006, when a commanding display from Zinedine Zidane propelled Les Bleus past a star-studded Seleção lineup featuring Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Kaká, and Roberto Carlos in the quarterfinals.
Unfortunately for Mbappé's ambitions, the semifinals represent the most probable stage for a France vs. Brazil encounter in North America this summer, according to Opta's projections. Should either team fail to win their group, that tantalizing clash could only unfold in a potential final.
The odds suggest Mbappé's dream matchups have only a slim chance of coming to fruition. Yet if these nations embark on the kind of deep runs they are fully capable of, Mbappé's wishes could be granted at the very pinnacle of the World Cup — in what would be electrifying, unmissable encounters.