The match in the third round of the group stage of the 2026/2027 UEFA Nations League between the national teams of Denmark and Portugal will take place on Thursday, 1 October 2026, in Copenhagen at Parken Stadium. Denmark v Portugal: the match is scheduled to kick off at 21:45 Kyiv time. A Ukrainian refereeing team led by Mykola Balakin will officiate the match.
Portugal national team
Jorge Jesus’s side top their group with 6 points from their first two matches. Ahead of the match against Denmark, a high-profile internal row broke out within the squad, which has become the main talking point in the European sports media.
The Portuguese side’s new head coach, Jorge Jesus, unexpectedly left 41-year-old captain Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench for the last match against Norway. For the first time in 18 years, Ronaldo spent an entire competitive match on the bench and reacted very emotionally to the incident. He stormed off to the changing room, ignoring his teammates and fans, and the following day trained separately from the team in the gym.
The famous striker’s outburst has caused serious tension within the squad and across the country’s football community as a whole. Jesus has called an emergency meeting, attended by the president of the Portuguese Football Federation, which is taking place in Denmark itself, to resolve the situation regarding the legend’s playing time. The manager notes that the door is open for Ronaldo, and he may turn up in Copenhagen.
Despite the psychological pressure caused by the scandal, the Portuguese are playing some excellent football. In Cristiano’s absence, other players are stepping up to deliver results. In the last match, João Félix and Gonçalo Ramos scored, whilst Bruno Fernandes is playing a key role in midfield. Rúben Dias and Diogo Dalot are expected to start in defence.
Portugal, despite the controversies surrounding Ronaldo, are travelling to Denmark with the sole aim of securing a victory to cement their position at the top of the group.
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Denmark national team
Brian Rimmer’s side have picked up 3 points. The Danes have been performing well at home and have won their last three matches, though they have a run of poor results in head-to-head fixtures against the Portuguese.
The team has shown positive momentum following a poor start, but the side from Jutland has suffered a significant personnel setback on the eve of the match. Rimmer’s biggest problem has been the enforced withdrawal of 21-year-old Patrick Dorgu, a versatile player of Nigerian descent. The Manchester United player sustained a hamstring injury in the match against Wales and has already left the national team’s training camp.
The coaching staff are continuing to rely on the team’s core, comprising Rasmus Højlund, Pierre-Emile Højbjerg and Joachim Andersen. Winger Gustav Isaksen is also in superb form, having scored one of the goals in the last round.
The Danes are a formidable force at their home ground, Parken, and are determined to put up a strong fight against the group leaders.
Denmark v Portugal prediction
Fans can expect a high-scoring match with both teams finding the net (odds on ‘both teams to score’ — 1.63).
Denmark will take the initiative at home and apply high-pressing tactics. At the same time, Portugal boast a powerful star-studded squad (notably, Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes are expected to feature).
‘Both teams to score’ is the obvious choice.
Probable score: 1–2
