Portugal is colloquially referred to as the Seleção das Quinas (a synecdoche based on the flag of the country) and has notable rivalries with Brazil, due to shared cultural traits and heritage, France, due to several important meetings between the two teams at the Euros and World Cup, and Spain, known as A Guerra Ibérica in Portuguese or The Iberian War in English, with the rivalry between two countries going back to 1581.

1921: Portugal participates in its first international soccer match, facing Spain. 1934: Creation of the Primeira Divisão, Portugal’s top-tier soccer league, forerunner of the modern Primeira Liga. 1966: Portugal, led by star player Eusébio, finishes third in the FIFA World Cup, marking its best performance at the time.