Cristiano Ronaldo Set for Possible Return to the US for Friendly Match Against USMNT

Cristiano Ronaldo might return to the United States for the first time since 2014, when he last played there with Real Madrid. Reports indicate that Portugal is in final discussions to face the USMNT during a FIFA international window, marking the return of the all-time leading scorer to American fields.

According to The Athletic, U.S. Soccer is collaborating with the Portuguese federation to set up a match in March 2026. While nothing is confirmed yet, the game is expected to take place in an NFL stadium.

The report also mentions that Belgium will likely be the USMNT’s other opponent during the same international period. This gives Mauricio Pochettino’s team a chance to face two strong competitors ahead of the 2026 World Cup. For the US, it’s also a chance to recover momentum following a recent loss to South Korea and a win against Japan in friendlies.

The last encounter between the US and Portugal was a friendly in 2017, which ended in a 1–1 draw in Europe without Ronaldo participating. In terms of Belgium, the US lost 2–1 to them in the Round of 16 during the 2014 World Cup, despite a notable performance by goalkeeper Tim Howard.

Mexico also aiming to host Ronaldo and Portugal

Mexico is reportedly trying to bring Cristiano Ronaldo to the Estadio Azteca during the same March international window. The Mexican federation is looking into the possibility of hosting Portugal for a friendly as part of the stadium’s reopening ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

“One of the matches will be played in Mexico for the stadium’s reopening, and the target opponent is Portugal. It’s not finalized yet, but I can confirm both opponents will be top-10 teams, likely top-8,” a journalist reported on La Última Palabra.

The last competitive matches between Mexico and Portugal took place at the 2017 Confederations Cup. The two teams drew 2–2 in the group stage, after which Portugal won 2–1 in the third-place playoff. Ronaldo did not participate in that tournament.

Gianni Taina is a bilingual journalist with expertise in soccer, the NBA, and tennis. He began his career in 2020 with Mundo Deportivo US and has covered major events like the FIFA World Cup, the NBA Finals, and Grand Slam tournaments. In 2024, he joined Bolavip US, where he reports on a range of sports, including European soccer, MLS, and the NBA.