Jose Mourinho is projected to be offered the managerial position for the Portugal national football team after the conclusion of the 2026 World Cup, which will take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) plans to pursue the current Benfica manager once Roberto Martinez's contract comes to an end following the global tournament.
Mourinho returned to Benfica for a second term in September after signing a two-year deal with the Liga Portugal club. However, ESPN reports that the FPF will likely target the 63-year-old for the prestigious international role after Martinez steps down.
Additionally, should Mourinho decide to leave Benfica, recently dismissed Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim is considered the leading candidate to take his place, given his nine-year tenure at the club as a player and his successful coaching record in Portugal after gaining multiple trophies with Sporting CP.
Mourinho has indicated his ambition to transition into international management, expressing his interest in January of the previous year when he was still managing Fenerbahce in Turkey.
"I want to participate in a European Championship or a World Cup and bring a nation together around a team, as I have done with various clubs," he stated in an interview with Corriere Dello Sport. "I wish to do this for the sake of football and what it symbolizes. It would be an extraordinary experience."
In August, amidst speculation about a potential role with Brazil, he clarified his intentions by stating in an interview with Sporty Net: "My goal regarding international coaching is to compete in a World Cup with the Portuguese national team. Coaching the Brazilian national team has never been a consideration for me. My initial opportunity must be with Portugal, though I am just a professional who can coach other teams tied to me. Although Brazil holds a historical connection to our countries, England is my home, and I have spent significant time working in Italy. However, my first national coaching experience must belong to me."
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