Portugal vs. Poland UEFA Nations League Showdown: Ronaldo's Team Needs Just One Point to Secure Quarterfinals!

Portugal's Path to the Quarterfinals

Portugal head into this clash against Poland at the Estadio do Dragao in Porto knowing that a point will be enough for them to progress through to the next stage of the Nations League. The Seleção need just one point to ensure their place in the next phase. While head coach Roberto Martinez has tinkered and tweaked his side throughout the campaign, Portugal still find themselves at the top of Group A1, three points ahead of second-placed Croatia. A draw will see Portugal through to the quarter-finals while it is a must-win game for Poland.

Poland's uphill battle

Poland meanwhile need at least four points from their final two matches to stand any chance of reaching the finals. A draw will be enough for Portugal to secure a spot in the quarter-finals. Poland are third with four points. Only a win will keep them in contention for a place in the quarter-final. Croatia, on seven points, are second in the group while Scotland are fourth. The top two nations from the group will advance to the quarter-finals.

The Stakes Are High

This is not just about reaching the Nations League quarterfinals; there's also a significant impact on the 2026 World Cup qualifying draw. The eight teams in the UNL quarterfinals will all need free dates in March, with the four finalists also requiring June to be empty. The eight teams who make it to the UNL quarterfinals will be placed in Pot 1 of the World Cup draw, guaranteeing a more favorable route to the next World Cup. Finishing in the top two of UNL League A offers a significant advantage in seeding. Results this week could significantly influence the World Cup qualifying draw seeding. Finishing in the top two of UNL League A secures a seeded position. With this at stake the Portugal vs. Poland match is a nail biter!

Match Details

Date: Friday, November 15, 2024
Time: 7:45 p.m. WET (Portugal), 2:45 p.m. ET (US), 7:45 p.m. GMT (UK)
Location: Estádio do Dragão, Porto, Portugal

Where to Watch the Portugal vs. Poland Match

The availability of the match broadcast varies by region. For viewers in the UK, the game will be available to watch live and for free via the Viaplay International YouTube channel. In Australia, fans can catch the action on Optus Sport. Canadian viewers will need a DAZN Canada subscription. The match will also be available via various streaming services.

Streaming Options in the US

Today's game is on Fubo Sports Network, the streaming platform's dedicated sports service. There's a lot to like about Fubo. In addition to its own Fubo Sports Network, it offers a wide selection of channels, plus its sports focus makes it especially attractive to soccer fans, as well as NBA, NHL, and MLB fans who live in an area served by one of Fubo's RSNs. It's also a great choice for NFL fans, since it's one of three services, alongside YouTube TV and Hulu, that offer NFL Network and optional RedZone. The biggest hole in Fubo's lineup is the lack of Warner Bros. Discovery networks, including HGTV, Food Network, Cartoon Network, CNN, TNT, and TBS -- especially since the latter two carry a lot of sports content, in particular NBA, NHL, and MLB. Those missing channels, and the $80 price tag, make it less attractive than YouTube TV for most viewers.

Watching Internationally with a VPN

If you find yourself unable to view this Nations League fixture locally, you may need a different way to watch the match -- that's where using a VPN can come in handy. A VPN is also the best way to stop your ISP from throttling your speeds on game day by encrypting your traffic, and it's also a great idea if you're traveling and find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network, and you want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins. With a VPN, you're able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet, or laptop to get access to the game. Most VPNs, like our Editors' Choice, ExpressVPN, make it really easy to do this. Using a VPN to watch or stream sports is legal in any country where VPNs are legal, including the US, UK, and Canada, as long as you have a legitimate subscription to the service you're streaming. You should be sure your VPN is set up correctly to prevent leaks: Even where VPNs are legal, the streaming service may terminate the account of anyone it deems to be circumventing correctly applied blackout restrictions. ExpressVPN is our current best VPN pick for people who want a reliable and safe VPN, and it works on a variety of devices. It's normally $13 a month, but if you sign up for an annual subscription for $100 you'll get three months free and save 49%. That's the equivalent of $6.67 a month with code SPECIALDEAL, which should be automatically applied. Note that ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Key Players and Team News

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, the all-time leading goal-scorer, is expected to start at the front. The home team boasts a strong squad with goalkeeper Diogo Costa, right-back Joao Cancelo, Paris Saint-Germain defender Nuno Mendes, and creative midfielder Bruno Fernandes in the team. Meanwhile, Poland will be without their star forward Robert Lewandowski, who has been ruled out with a back injury. Piotr Zielinski, who plays for Inter Milan, is expected to be their main striker. Portugal have a crisis at centre-back heading into this international window, with Ruben Dias and Goncalo Inacio both absent with injury. In attack, the hosts are without Diogo Jota and Goncalo Ramos, while midfield trio Ruben Neves, Matheus Nunes and Pedro Goncalves are all also unavailable. Poland have been hugely weakened by the absence of star striker Robert Lewandowski, who has pulled out of the squad late with a lower back issue. Arkadiusz Milik remains off the radar, so Karol Swiderski and Krzysztof Piatek could battle for a starting spot up top for the away side, unless Probierz opts to go for a two-pronged attack. Jakub Piotrowski and Kacper Kozlowski are absent in the midfield for Poland, while Verona's Pawel Dawidowicz is still out after being forced off in the first half against Croatia last month.

A Look at the Recent History

The reverse fixture played between these two teams last month was won by Portugal with a 3-1 scoreline. Poland’s last win over Portugal dates back to 2006. Portugal have only lost at home to Poland once, and that was back in 1976, so Martinez's men will fancy their chances of another three points, especially after winning the reverse fixture 3-1 last month. Poland will have to be aggressive knowing that they must get something here, and that even a point may not be enough if Croatia match their result, but the might of the Portugal team will make that devilishly difficult for Probierz's side.

Conclusion: A Must-Watch Match

With high stakes for both teams, this Portugal vs. Poland match promises to be an exciting and intense encounter. Whether you're a fan of either team or just a lover of top-tier football, this game is a must-watch. The outcome will not only determine their place in the Nations League but also significantly impact their 2026 World Cup qualifying journey.