TRIBUNJAKARTA.COM – Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to make what could be his final appearance on the World Cup stage in 2026 with the Portugal national team.
While fans around the world eagerly await the ‘last dance’ of the football superstar, Andri Priwitama Maila, the Deputy Sub-District Head of Duren Sawit, made a surprising confession.
A long-time supporter of the Italian national team, he admitted that he would temporarily ‘switch allegiance’ to Portugal for the 2026 World Cup.
This decision came after Gli Azzurri failed to qualify for the final round of the 2026 World Cup.
Ronaldo Poised to Make History
Despite being 41 years old, Cristiano Ronaldo remains a key part of Portugal’s squad.
Coach Roberto Martínez has once again included Ronaldo’s name as part of the journey toward the 2026 World Cup.
According to Tribunnews, Ronaldo is set to make history as the only player to feature in six consecutive World Cup tournaments since his debut in 2006.
Beyond Ronaldo’s presence, Portugal is also considered one of the strong contenders for the 2026 World Cup title thanks to their balanced squad across all positions.
Portugal has been placed in Group K alongside Colombia, Uzbekistan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Italy Fails to Qualify, Support Shifts
Amid the excitement surrounding the upcoming 2026 World Cup, Andri Priwitama Maila expressed disappointment over Italy’s failure to qualify.
Andri said that he had been an avid supporter of Gli Azzurri since childhood.
He grew up during the golden era of Italian football legends such as Roberto Baggio, Alessandro Del Piero, Alessandro Nesta, and Paolo Maldini.
However, Italy’s absence from the tournament forced him to look for another team to cheer for during the World Cup.
“I wanted to support Italy, but they didn’t qualify. So I’ll support Portugal instead. They were the European champions before, and I think their squad is still strong,” Andri said in East Jakarta on Saturday (May 30, 2026).
According to Andri, his decision to support Portugal was not without reason.
Besides Cristiano Ronaldo’s influence, he pointed out that many Portuguese players have connections with Italian football.
“Many of their players have played in Italy before. Portugal’s regeneration is also consistent — similar to Belgium, they always have star players in every generation,” he added.
The former Susukan Village Head also expressed optimism that Portugal could go far in the 2026 World Cup.
He believes Portugal’s group stage opponents are manageable, though he remains cautious about Uzbekistan’s potential surprise.
“Once they get through the group stage, the tough ones will probably come in Mexico. But Uzbekistan is also on the rise — they did quite well in the last Asian Cup,” he noted.
The 2026 World Cup is scheduled to take place from June 11 to July 19.
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