Portugal’s World Cup preparations were disrupted after severe storms in Florida forced the cancellation of training and media activities ahead of their clash with DR Congo.
Portugal’s preparations for their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup suffered an unexpected setback after severe weather conditions in Florida forced the cancellation of training and media activities on Sunday.
The Portuguese national team is currently based in Palm Beach ahead of its Group K opener against the Democratic Republic of Congo. However, a powerful storm that swept through the area disrupted the squad’s scheduled plans less than 48 hours before their first match of the tournament.
🚨🚨🚨 🇵🇹 BREAKING:
Portugal’s training center in Palm Beach is being evacuated due to a storm.
The Portugal team is stuck in the bus right now.
The player press conference has also been cancelled.
The training session is under threat. pic.twitter.com/NUQ22PISKW
— The CR7 Timeline. (@TimelineCR7) June 14, 2026
Media activities were the first to be affected. Less than an hour before midfielder Matheus Nunes was due to address reporters, journalists were instructed to leave the press facilities and return to their vehicles as safety concerns increased due to the approaching storm.
The Gardens North County District Park, where Portugal had planned to train and conduct media duties, was deemed unsafe because of heavy rainfall, lightning, and thunderstorm activity. As conditions worsened, officials confirmed that all scheduled media events had been cancelled.
Portugal’s players had already arrived at the training ground when the weather situation escalated. The Portuguese Football Federation later confirmed that head coach Roberto Martinez’s scheduled training session had also been called off due to the dangerous conditions.
Instead of training outdoors, the squad carried out physical activation and recovery exercises indoors. Team officials also implemented emergency procedures, relocating players and staff to a designated safe area while the storm passed through the region.
To compensate for the disruption, Portugal adjusted its training schedule for the following day. Rather than training later in the evening, the squad moved its session to the morning to avoid forecasts predicting further severe weather.
Portugal will begin their World Cup campaign against the Democratic Republic of Congo in Houston on June 17 before facing tournament debutants Uzbekistan on June 23. Roberto Martinez’s side will conclude their Group K fixtures against Colombia in Miami on June 27 as they aim to make a strong start in their quest for World Cup glory.
