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PADANG - The 2026 FIFA World Cup is fast approaching. The world’s biggest football tournament promises to be even more competitive as FIFA has expanded the number of participating teams to 48 countries.

Amid the growing excitement for the quadrennial football spectacle, Semen Padang FC Commissioner, Braditi Moulevey, revealed the national team he plans to support at the 2026 World Cup.

Although he previously rooted for Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, in the last edition, this time Braditi’s support appears to be leaning towards Portugal.

Supporting Portugal for Cristiano Ronaldo’s Grand Farewell

Braditi shared his special hopes for the Portuguese national team in the upcoming 2026 World Cup.

He believes the tournament, which will take place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, may be Cristiano Ronaldo’s final opportunity to appear on football’s grandest stage.

“Last time, I supported Messi and Argentina. Hopefully, this year will be Ronaldo’s last with Portugal and he can finally lift the trophy,” Braditi told TribunPadang.com.

He expressed his wish that the Portuguese superstar could conclude his international career by winning the World Cup title.

Ronaldo’s Legacy as the Main Motivation

Braditi admitted that his support for Portugal is largely inspired by Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the most iconic figures in global football.

In his view, Ronaldo’s remarkable career deserves to be crowned with the highest honour—a World Cup trophy.

“We see his character and experience. Hopefully, he can compete well and Portugal can become champions,” he said.

Although he did not specifically analyse Portugal’s technical strength, Braditi believes the Selecao das Quinas have a solid squad capable of competing with other major footballing nations.

Global Football Power Now More Balanced

Besides backing Portugal, Braditi also noted that competition at the 2026 World Cup will be much harder to predict than in previous tournaments.

He pointed out that the global football landscape has become more balanced, with no single team or two teams dominating the scene.

According to him, many nations now have footballers of nearly equal quality, making the race for the title more open than ever.

“Right now, the level of competition is almost even. No team is overly dominant. Even Italy, with their current squad, didn’t qualify. So I think it’s going to be very unpredictable,” he remarked.

2026 World Cup Sets a New Milestone

The 2026 World Cup will mark a historic milestone as the largest edition of the tournament ever held.

According to FIFA data, this will be the first time the tournament is hosted by three countries simultaneously—the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

In addition, the number of participating teams has increased from 32 to 48. Under the new format, a total of 104 matches will be played throughout the competition.

The opening match is scheduled for 11 June 2026 in Mexico, while the final will take place on 19 July 2026 at MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey, United States.

With more teams and greater parity among national sides, the 2026 World Cup is expected to deliver numerous surprises right from the early stages.

Meanwhile, the Portuguese national team has been placed in Group K for the tournament, alongside DR Congo, Uzbekistan, and Colombia.

This will mark Portugal’s ninth World Cup appearance. In the previous edition, they were eliminated in the quarterfinals by Morocco. Their best achievement to date remains their third-place finish in 1966, when they defeated the Soviet Union.