Portugal's Football Federation Makes a Surprising Decision Regarding Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo risks not participating in the friendly between Portugal and Mexico at Azteca Stadium, even though he was anticipated to be the main attraction on the stadium's reopening day after upgrades.

In preparation for the 2026 World Cup, Portugal has scheduled four additional friendlies, including a match against Mexico on March 28. Although Ronaldo is eligible to play after serving his suspension, whether he will take the field, with the game still almost two months away, remains uncertain at this time.

According to Diario Olé, the CEO of the Mexican Football Federation, Ivar Sisniega, commented on this uncertainty: “The Portuguese national team, due to internal policies, has decided not to include a clause requiring Cristiano Ronaldo to participate in any friendly match agreements.”

This statement surprised many fans because Ronaldo has faced Liga MX clubs in friendlies or the FIFA Club World Cup but has never played on Mexican soil. Although the match falls within the FIFA international window in March and does not affect his commitments at Al Nassr, the FPF’s stance makes Ronaldo’s absence from this notable game quite possible, despite it being the biggest media draw.

After the match against Mexico, Portugal is expected to continue their North American tour with a game against the US Men's National Team (USMNT) on March 31. Both matches are considered crucial rehearsals for the World Cup and serve as test events for the host stadiums. If Ronaldo participates, global attention will undoubtedly increase significantly.

Following the Clausura 2024 final between Club América and Cruz Azul, Estadio Azteca underwent major renovations starting in May of that year. The project aims to prepare for the 2026 World Cup, with plans to reopen in March.

Speaking in October 2025 during a presentation on the World Cup stadium preparations in Monterrey, Mr. Sisniega commented on Azteca's progress: “Everything is progressing well, and the stadium will be ready not only for the World Cup but also to host a pre-World Cup match.”

During the tournament, the stadium will temporarily be renamed Estadio Ciudad de México to comply with FIFA’s sponsorship regulations. With the World Cup 2026 opening match between Mexico and South Africa scheduled for June 11, this stadium will become the first in World Cup history to host three opening matches.