Portugal beats Gibraltar 4-0 to qualify for 2027 Under-21 Euro finals

Four goals in Ponta Delgada

Portugal defeated Gibraltar 4-0 on Wednesday, 30 September, at the stadium in Ponta Delgada, Azores, to confirm their place at the European Under-21 Championship. Rodrigo Mora opened the scoring in the 21st minute with a bicycle kick that beat the Gibraltar defense. Portugal controlled possession throughout the opening half and extended their advantage in the 44th minute through a goal from Rodrigo Rêgo. The two-goal cushion gave the hosts command going into the half-time break before a late flurry rounded out the scoreline. In the closing minutes of regulation time, Gonçalo Oliveira added Portugal's third goal in the 88th minute. The score was finalized in the first minute of stoppage time (90+1') when an attempted clearance by Gibraltar's Peacock resulted in an own goal. Following the final whistle in Ponta Delgada, the Portuguese squad celebrated on the pitch with supporters, chanting the country's name to commemorate the result.

Group B standings and final fixture

The victory in the penultimate qualifying round brought Portugal to 22 points at the top of Group B. The Czech Republic sits in second place on 18 points after nine matches, which leaves them four points behind with only one round remaining. Because only three points remain available, the Czech Republic cannot bridge the gap to first place, granting Portugal direct qualification into the final tournament. The qualifying group concludes on Tuesday with a match between Portugal and the Czech Republic in Leiria. That match will serve as the final fixture of the campaign, though Portugal enters the contest having already clinched the group title and top seeding.

Management transition from Rui Jorge to Luís Freire

This qualifying campaign is the first for Portugal under the direction of head coach Luís Freire. Freire took charge of the under-21 squad following the conclusion of Rui Jorge's 15-year tenure in the role. During his first full cycle, Freire guided the team through nine Group B fixtures to secure qualification before the final matchday. The win against Gibraltar maintained Portugal's run of qualifying form and ensured that the managerial transition preserved the team's position at the top tier of European youth football. Freire's squad will conclude their group commitments in Leiria before turning attention toward preparations for the tournament finals.

Tournament details for Euro 2027

Wednesday's result confirms Portugal's 11th overall appearance at the European Under-21 Championship finals. It also marks the fourth consecutive edition of the tournament for which the nation has qualified. The 26th edition of the competition will be held across two host countries, Albania and Serbia, running from 17 June to 4 July 2027. A total of 16 national teams will contest the final phase, with Portugal taking one of the available spots as Group B winners. The squad now looks ahead to the summer 2027 competition following their successful campaign in the qualifying group.