World Cup 2026

Inside Cristiano Ronaldo’s $4,500-a-night World Cup bunker hidden in the Mexican jungle

Portugal will use a luxury Riviera Maya resort surrounded by mangroves, lagoons and jungle as its World Cup base camp.

JOSE SENA GOULAO
Managing Editor AS USA
Sports-lover turned journalist, born and bred in Scotland, with a passion for football (soccer). He’s also a keen follower of NFL, NBA, golf and tennis, among others, and always has an eye on the latest in science, tech and current affairs. As Managing Editor at AS USA, uses background in operations and marketing to drive improvements for reader satisfaction.
Update:

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup almost upon us, interest in where the teams are basing themselves is growing, with no one surprised to hear that these international stars will be slumming it at any point of their stay.

And Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal is a perfect example.

The team’s headquarters are fit for one of the biggest headliners in the game (although surely this will be his last) as they set up operations from a luxury resort hidden among the jungles and waterways of Mexico’s Caribbean coast.

The Portuguese national team has chosen the Fairmont Mayakoba in Quintana Roo as its World Cup base camp, using the sprawling Riviera Maya property as a strategic hub during the tournament. Nestled between mangroves, freshwater canals and tropical forest, the resort offers the privacy, security and recovery facilities modern international teams demand.

It’s really quite something.

Fairmont Mayakoba

Portugal’s luxury hideaway in the Mexican jungle

The Fairmont Mayakoba is about as far from the crowds as you can get, although no doubt those zoom lenses will be poking through the trees Southampton style.

For those looking to splash out, the resort’s top suites come with hefty price tags. The Tortuga Presidential Suite sits on its own private island and includes a pool, gardens and butler service, costing more than $4,500 a night. The Camaleón Presidential Suite offers direct beach access, Caribbean views and a private pool, with rates topping $4,700 per night.

Even the Coral and Bamboo specialty suites, complete with private terraces and pools, can cost more than $4,000 per night.

Portugal prepares for the World CupJOSE SENA GOULAO

Why did Portugal choose Mexico?

The decision wasn’t just about luxury. The resort is around 40 minutes from Cancún International Airport, making travel to Portugal’s group-stage games in Houston and Miami relatively straightforward.

FIFA also approved Mayakoba as an official team base camp, giving Portugal a secluded and well-connected headquarters for its World Cup campaign.

Portugal prepares for the World CupPATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA

What are Portugal’s World Cup group games?

Portugal is in Group K at the 2026 World Cup, where its first-round opponents will be DR Congo, Uzbekistan and Colombia. Here are the game times.

  • Portugal vs DR Congo: June 17, 1 p.m. ET
  • Portugal vs Uzbekistan: June 23, 1 p.m. ET
  • Colombia vs Portugal: June 27, 7:30 p.m. ET

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