After all that build up – well, from a West Ham United perspective that is – Mateus Fernandes’ Portugal debut was a bit of a damp squib in the end.
The Sporting Lisbon academy graduate finally made his first appearance for the senior side on Tuesday night.
But all of Roberto Martinez’s glowing praise – Fernandes has made ‘incredible’ progress at West Ham United, he said, while others believe the midfielder is the ‘future’ of Portuguese football – five short minutes off the bench in a friendly victory over the USA was all he got.
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Tomas Soucek of Czechia celebrates scoring his teams second penalty in the shootout during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Czechia and Denmark at EPET ARENA on March 31, 2026 in Prague, Czech Republic.
The feeling, reinforced by the events of the last few days, is that securing a World Cup place will still be extremely difficult for Mateus Fernandes.
His first ever senior call-up coincided with the absences of both Joao Palhinha and Bernardo Silva, two guaranteed names on Martinez’s final roster.
And the lack of minutes afforded to him during his first few days in the national team camp only adds to the theory that the 2030 edition may be a more realistic target.
West Ham United’s Mateus Fernandes makes Portugal debut in USA
Mateus Fernandes playing for Portugal U21 against Azerbaijan U21.
Photo by Sergio Mendes/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Mateus Fernandes was left among the substitutes when Portugal played out a dull 0-0 draw with Mexico over the weekend. In a pair of friendlies against two World Cup co-hosts, the Iberians then faced the United States at the Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
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The final international before both nations select their World Cup squads.
Whether Fernandes makes the cut for Portugal remains to be seen. That he played only five of a potential 180 minutes across the two games, though, suggests that the ex-Southampton schemer remains behind Bruno Fernandes, Joao Felix, Vitinha, Joao Neves, Ruben Neves, Matheus Nunes and even the late-blooming Samu of Vitoria Guimaraes.
Not to mention Palhinha and Bernardo Silva.
Fernandes’ versatility gives him a chance – he has thrived both as a box-to-box number eight and a more deep-lying operator at club level – but clearly Martinez has other, more established options at the front of his mind for now.
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What can Summerville do to snatch victory from Fernandes?
Mateus Fernandes of West Ham United celebrates his goal with Crysencio Summerville of West Ham United during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Sunderland at the London Stadium in Stratford, England, on January 24, 2026.
Fernandes delighted to see his Hammers form rewarded
A poll conducted among Hammers News’ TalkingPoint users this week saw the fans vote Mateus Fernandes as West Ham’s prospective Player of the Year. An outstanding breakout campaign in the Premier League has catapulted Fernandes in Martinez’s plans, but perhaps he is someone identified for the post-tournament transition than a short-term World Cup candidate.
Still, despite being limited to a brief cameo off the bench in Georgia, just you try wiping the smile off Fernandes’ face.
“All players want to play for our national team, where the bar is very high,” Fernandes beamed at full-time. “I try to wait for my moment and, when I get on the field, it’s about helping the team.”
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