A sparkling first-half performance provided the platform for Portugal women to beat Vietnam 2-0 at the FIFA World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023.

The electric Telma Encarnação was the star of the show, scoring the opening goal and assisting Kika Nazareth as Portugal raced into a 2-0 lead.

The Seleção could and should have scored more, but will be happy to record a first ever World Cup win in convincing fashion. 

The female Seleção made their World Cup bow today at the Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, New Zealand, going down 1-0 against the Netherlands.

A nervy Portugal were very much second-best in the first half and were grateful to go into the break just one goal down from Stefanie van der Gragt’s towering header from a corner.

The Navegadoras improved significantly in the second 45 minutes, but despite enjoying more possession in the Dutch defensive half of the pitch, were unable to force an equaliser. 

There will come a time when women’s football in Portugal will stop smashing through new barriers at breakneck speed. That time has not yet arrived.

Investment by the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) and many of Portugal’s biggest clubs has led to successive landmarks being reached in recent years, both on and off the pitch. 

Portugal’s 2023 European U19 Championship campaign in Malta ended with a 1-0 defeat to Italy in the final at Ta'Qali National Stadium.

The Azzurini were the better team in the first half with Michael Kayode scoring the decisive goal in the 19th minute. 

Joaquim Milheiro made two changes at the break which briefly turned the tide in his side’s favour, but the free flowing football displayed in the run to the final was rarely on show.

The defeat brings the summer of action to a close for Portugal’s youth teams, the U17 side knocked out in the group stage in Hungary and the U21 side exiting in the quarter-finals in Georgia.