Portugal vs. Samoa: Nations Cup Stakes, Kickoff and Team News — Checked Nov. 11

Verified and updated: November 11, 2026, 3:01 p.m. UTC (Lisbon, WET, UTC+00:00).

Portugal goes into Saturday’s World Rugby Nations Cup meeting with Samoa after a 36–15 home win over Chile, a result that left the Lobos second in their pool with 17 points. Samoa arrives from a separate pool, where it has 12 points after four matches. The game is scheduled for November 14 at Estádio do Restelo in Lisbon, with kickoff at 3 p.m. WET (UTC+00:00). Portugal can strengthen its bid to finish atop its pool; the match does not directly change Samoa’s pool position against Portugal because the teams belong to different pools. World Rugby’s match page confirms the venue and date, while the official standings list the teams’ current points.

Destaques

• Kickoff: Saturday, November 14, at 3 p.m. in Lisbon (WET, UTC+00:00).
• Portugal beat Chile 36–15 on November 7 and sits second with 17 points.
• Samoa has 12 points and is second in its own pool.
• World Rugby has not posted either match-day starting lineup on the match page checked for this preview.

When is Portugal vs. Samoa, and where will it be played?

The Nations Cup fixture is set for Saturday, November 14, at Estádio do Restelo in Lisbon. The listed kickoff is 15:00 WET, which is 15:00 UTC. Portugal observes Western European Time in November; daylight saving time has ended by the match date, so Lisbon is on UTC+00:00. The kickoff is therefore also 3 p.m. UTC, with no date change for international viewers.

World Rugby names Eoghan Cross as referee, with Peter Martin and Robbie Jenkinson as assistant referees and Adam Jones as television match official. The official match page also links to RugbyPass TV’s free live coverage. Separately, DAZN’s Portugal announcement says Portugal’s Nations Cup matches, including this one, will be shown live for free to registered users on its service. Availability can depend on territory, so viewers should check the service offered where they are.

What are the Nations Cup standings implications?

The standings make this a meaningful home match for Portugal. The official table shows Georgia first in Portugal’s pool on 19 points, with Portugal second on 17 after four games. Portugal’s win over Chile was its third victory of the campaign; the result also included a bonus point, according to the points table. Portugal has two remaining listed home fixtures in November, against Samoa and then Uruguay on November 21. A win over Samoa would add to Portugal’s tally and keep pressure on Georgia, but the eventual pool outcome depends on results across the remaining schedule.

Samoa is in the other pool. The table lists the Samoans second there with 12 points from four games, behind the United States on 19. The teams’ pool positions should not be read as one shared head-to-head table: the official competition page presents two separate six-team pools. For Samoa, the Lisbon match is a chance to add points in its own pool race. For Portugal, it is an opportunity to protect its position while pursuing Georgia.

What happened in Portugal’s latest match?

Portugal’s latest completed Nations Cup result was a 36–15 victory over Chile at Restelo on November 7. The Portuguese Rugby Federation’s match report says Chile scored first, but Portugal moved ahead 17–12 before halftime through tries from Manuel Cardoso Pinto and David Wallis, along with a penalty. Raffaele Storti, André da Cunha and Storti again scored after the break to complete the win. That performance gives Portugal a recent home result to build on, though it does not determine how the Samoa test will unfold.

Portugal’s national federation announced a broad November call-up on October 26, covering the Chile, Samoa and Uruguay games. That squad announcement is not the same as the match-day team sheet. As of the 3:01 p.m. UTC verification time above, World Rugby’s official Portugal-Samoa page displayed a lineups section but no player names. Neither starting XV is confirmed in the sources checked for this article. The federation’s squad list may help identify players in contention, but it should not be presented as a confirmed lineup. Check the official match page and team channels closer to kickoff for the final selections.

What should viewers watch for?

Portugal will look to turn its home advantage and recent scoring form into another useful result, while Samoa will seek points to improve its standing in the separate Pacific-Americas pool. The available official information confirms the fixture, officials, standings and broadcast announcements, but it does not establish the teams’ tactical plans or guarantee a particular result. Portugal’s final November game against Uruguay follows one week later; Samoa’s remaining schedule also affects its pool finish. Those upcoming matches make this a consequential round for both sides, even though the standings are calculated separately.

Frequently asked questions

What time does Portugal vs. Samoa start?

Kickoff is 3 p.m. on November 14 in Lisbon (WET, UTC+00:00), also 15:00 UTC.

Are the starting lineups confirmed?

No. World Rugby’s match page did not list the match-day lineups at the time this article was checked.

Where can I watch the match?

World Rugby lists RugbyPass TV for free live coverage. DAZN says it will show Portugal’s matches free to registered users in Portugal; check local availability.