Teams

Portugal dropped points in their final two qualifying matches to finish second in Group A, with the last gasp 1-2 defeat at home to Serbia in their final match serving the sucker punch to force them into the playoffs. After dispatching Turkey 3-1 in their opener, they were likely to meet Italy for a place at the World Cup, only for the newly crowned European Champions to fall to North Macedonia, who Portugal went on to defeat 2-0 to qualify for their sixth consecutive World Cup. They have had a tough last few tournaments though, failing to escape the group stages in 2014 and being knocked out in the Round of 16 in 2010 and 2018. Champions of Europe in 2016, they were also knocked out in the Round of 16 in last year’s European Championships by Belgium.