Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — Portugal’s national soccer team arrived in Playa del Carmen on Tuesday night amid a major security operation, ahead of their friendly match against Mexico this weekend.
National Guard personnel and other authorities reinforced security at Cancun International Airport, where the Portuguese squad landed around 8 p.m. The team traveled without star player Cristiano Ronaldo, who was not called up for this international window.
The players checked into the luxury Fairmont Mayakoba resort north of Playa del Carmen, one of the hotels FIFA selected for its connectivity and sports infrastructure. The same facility will later serve as a training camp for Uruguay’s national team during the World Cup.
Authorities from all three levels of government used the arrival to test protocols they will implement during the World Cup, part of the broader Plan Kukulkán security strategy that includes nuclear threat detection measures.
Portugal, which aims to make a deep run in the World Cup hosted by Mexico, the United States and Canada, will hold its first training session at the Fairmont Mayakoba facilities at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, according to the Portuguese Football Federation’s schedule.
The team will hold a press conference at the resort at noon on Thursday, followed by a second training session at 6 p.m. Their final practice at the Fairmont is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Friday.
On Friday night, the team will fly from Cancun International Airport to Mexico City, with arrival planned for approximately 11:15 p.m.
Portugal will face Mexico’s national team in a friendly match at 7 p.m. on Saturday at Estadio Banorte in Mexico City, as both squads prepare for their World Cup campaigns.
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