Portugal will honor late forward Diogo Jota during the FIFA World Cup 2026 by wearing special commemorative wristbands in their campaign. Speaking ahead of Portugal’s Group K opener against the Democratic Republic of Congo, midfielder Vitinha says the squad received wristbands after meeting with Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro. Vitinha adds that the wristbands include the names of all current Portugal players as well as Diogo Jota’s name, and that they are designed to be worn on the pitch and comply with FIFA match entry requirements.
The tribute is connected to Jota’s death in a car accident in northwestern Spain last year, which also involved his brother. Portugal says Jota remains a cherished figure within the national team, and teammates have chosen to carry the remembrance onto the field during the tournament.
Portugal begin their World Cup campaign next week in North America, with Vitinha also emphasizing that the squad approaches the tournament with caution despite strong recent performances, after Portugal’s quarter-final exit at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.