Portugal was the last team to qualify for the competition, after drawing 16-16 with the United States, on Friday 18 November, but on that date it was no longer possible to buy tickets for any of the four matches that the team will play in, against Wales, Georgia, Australia and Fiji.

“Unfortunately, the last sales phase was in high demand, and all available tickets were purchased,” a WR source replied by email.

The body that oversees world rugby also explained that “France2023 is operating on a first-come, first-served basis” and, asked about the possibility of having reserved a percentage of tickets for fans of the selected teams, they replied that they “cannot reserve tickets for supporters of a particular nation.”

The solution for fans who wish to watch the Portuguese national team matches at the World Cup will, therefore, be exclusively through a ticket resale platform to be announced “next month”.

WR did not reveal, however, if fans who have tickets for the World Cup matches and want to get rid of them, through that platform, will be able to set their own price or if they will have to sell them at fixed prices.

"Full details about this resale platform will be announced over the next month to give fans certainty about the official resale process," WR wrote.

“Very strange”

Questioned by Lusa agency, the president of the Portuguese Rugby Federation said he had not yet been informed about the ticket sales policy, but admitted that he finds it "very strange" that there are no tickets available for Portugal's matches.

“We received information in the past, but it was related to countries that had already qualified. I'll find out about it in the next few days, but there have to be tickets”, said Carlos Amado da Silva.

The Portuguese rugby team secured, on Friday, qualification for the France 2023 Rugby World Cup, after drawing with the United States (16-16), thanks to a penalty converted by Samuel.

This is only the second time that Portugal will compete in the Rugby World Cup, after the only historic participation, in 2007, also in France.

The Portuguese team will be in Group C of the World Cup, with Wales, Australia, Fiji, and Georgia.

The 2023 Rugby World Cup will take place in France from 8 September to 28 October 2023.