The Almeida Fortress and the 2026 World Cup: From Battlefields to Playing Fields of Peace

During the French Invasions of Portugal, the military campaigns that marked this period involved some of the most renowned commanders of the era, whose decisions influenced the events that unfolded in Almeida.

Today, more than two hundred years later, history gives way to imagination. On this symbolic football pitch, created to mark the 2026 FIFA World Cup, former adversaries wear the same jersey and play on the same team. The commanders who once fought against one another and shaped Almeida’s destiny are now brought together in an exercise of coexistence and friendship among nations, reminding us that places once marked by war can become spaces of peace.

This message is in keeping with what the Municipality of Almeida seeks to evoke during the Almeida Siege festivities, where historical reenactors from Portugal, France, Britain and other countries gather each year to celebrate unity among peoples, demonstrating that understanding and acknowledging history can serve as a bridge to friendship, mutual respect and cooperation between nations.

On this imaginary football field, the “players” have been positioned symbolically, drawing a parallel between their military roles and the positions they occupy on the pitch. In attack are André Masséna and Napoleon Bonaparte, figures associated with offensive initiative and the ambition of conquest. Supporting the attack are Michel Ney, Jean-de-Dieu Soult and Jean Louis Reynier, commanders renowned for their leadership and tactical manoeuvring abilities.

At the centre of the field, responsible for organising play and linking all areas of the team, stands Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington, wearing the captain’s armband. In defence, William Cox and William Beresford occupy the central positions, supported on the flanks by Francisco Bernardo da Costa e Almeida and Fortunato José Barreiros, forming a solid defensive line. Protecting the goal is Miguel Pereira Forjaz, whose role was crucial in organising and coordinating Portuguese efforts during the Peninsular War.

Today, these protagonists of history share the same field, inviting everyone to reflect on Almeida’s past and recognise that what once divided nations can now unite them through remembrance, sport and peace.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗹𝗺𝗲𝗶𝗱𝗮 𝗦𝗶𝗲𝗴𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝟮𝟴, 𝟮𝟵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝟯𝟬 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲.