Jose Mourinho could soon reunite with Cristiano Ronaldo as the Portuguese Football Federation is on a mission to get the veteran coach on board ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the US, Mexico, and Canada.

If reports are to be believed, both the Portuguese Football Federation and Mourinho, currently coaching Fenerbahçe in the Turkish league, have established contact, and the talks are at an advanced stage.

Mourinho has always been interested in coaching Portugal, and in 2019 he said, "It is something I would like to do before I finish (my career), but since I still have a long way to go, it would not happen now - and we will see if the opportunity comes or not.”

The possibility of Mourinho taking over the Portugal national team has gained further ground after he fired on all cylinders as Fenerbahçe’s title hopes faded following a 3-3 draw against Kayserispor.

Fenerbahçe are currently trailing Galatasaray by just three points with six matches left to play. The draw did not go well with Mourinho, resulting in uncertainty about his future at the club.

Mourinho's contract with Fenerbahçe will expire in 2026. But CNN Portugal reported that the Portuguese association is actively chasing Mourinho, who previously worked with Ronaldo at Real Madrid, as a replacement for the current Portugal manager, Roberto Martínez. Goal, on the other hand, reported that the deal is “close” to being finalized.

If Mourinho comes on board, it will see him forging a partnership with Cristiano Ronaldo again. The duo enjoyed tremendous success during their three-season stint at Real Madrid from 2010 to 2013.

As the rumours of Ronaldo moving to Fenerbahçe lost steam after months of speculation, the latest development has again raised hopes of Mourinho and Ronaldo forging another partnership late in their respective careers — this time at the national team.

Several media reports stated that Mourinho will take over from Martínez after Portugal's UEFA Nations League campaign. Portugal are set to take on Germany in the semifinals on June 4. That means Mourinho will have a full year to work on Portugal's preparations for the World Cup.

In his illustrious career, Mourinho, who is famous for his ‘Park the Bus’ defensive tactic, has managed several clubs like Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur, and took them to dizzying heights.

However, he has never coached any national team.

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