Storm forces Portugal to cancel World Cup training session in Florida

Portugal’s preparations for its opening match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup were disrupted on Sunday after severe weather forced the national team to cancel a scheduled training session in Palm Beach, Florida.

The squad, coached by Roberto Martínez, had been due to train at the Gardens North County District Park as it continued preparations for Wednesday’s Group K opener against the Democratic Republic of Congo.

However, a thunderstorm accompanied by heavy rain prompted organisers to suspend media activities and eventually call off the session altogether.

Less than an hour before midfielder Matheus Nunes was due to address reporters, journalists were instructed to leave the press area and return to their vehicles because the facility could not guarantee safe conditions during the storm.

By 6pm local time, media activities had been cancelled and concerns were growing over whether training could proceed.

The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) later confirmed that the weather conditions had made it impossible for the team to train outdoors. Instead, players completed “activation” and conditioning work inside a sports hall.

The squad was also required to move to a secure location and follow emergency procedures already established for severe weather situations.

Portugal has subsequently altered its schedule for this Monday, with training brought forward to the morning to avoid further forecast storms later in the day.

Portugal begins its World Cup campaign on Wednesday against the Democratic Republic of Congo in Houston, with kick-off scheduled for 12pm local time (6pm in mainland Portugal).

The Seleção will then face tournament debutants Uzbekistan on June 23, also in Houston, before concluding the group stage against Colombia in Miami on June 27.

The 2026 World Cup, the first to feature 48 national teams, is being held across the United States, Mexico and Canada and runs until July 19.

Check out our full guide to the World Cup, including every match, when it is being played and where you can watch it.

Michael Bruxo

Journalist for the Portugal Resident.