Good morning, Lisbon. It's Thursday, April 2, and we're looking at 17°C with partly cloudy skies. The seleção are coming home unbeaten from two friendlies, the city is emptying for Easter, and the weekend starts tomorrow. Let's get into it.
🌬️ AIR QUALITY: 24 (Good). Cool and clear.
🗞️ TOP STORY
PORTUGAL 2-0 USA. THE WORLD CUP SQUAD IS TAKING SHAPE.
Portugal wrapped up their pre-World Cup March window with a comfortable 2-0 win over the United States in front of 72,297 fans at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Tuesday night. It was professional, controlled, and at times ruthless, exactly what Roberto Martinez needed to see three months out from the tournament.
Francisco Trincao opened the scoring in the 37th minute after a slick through ball from Bruno Fernandes. Joao Felix doubled the lead in the 59th with a sweet half-volley from the top of the penalty area off a set piece, also assisted by Fernandes. Two goals, two assists for Bruno. He ran the game from start to finish.
The bigger story is what Portugal did without. No Cristiano Ronaldo, who's nursing a hamstring injury at Al Nassr. No Bernardo Silva, who wasn't called up for the March window at all. No Diogo Costa, no Rafael Leao, no Ruben Dias. Martinez fielded a squad missing several first-choice players and still dominated a team that will host the World Cup in two months.
For the Americans, it was a rough end to a rough week. They lost 5-2 to Belgium on Saturday before this, and Christian Pulisic's goal drought now stretches to 14 games without scoring for the national team. The US had 62% of possession but created almost nothing clear-cut. Portugal were happy to sit, wait, and punish.
For the Portuguese, the March window answered a question that's been lingering since the draw: can this team compete at the World Cup without Ronaldo on the pitch for 90 minutes? The answer, based on these friendlies, is that it might actually play better without him. The attack looked fluid, the movement was sharper, and the midfield trio of Vitinha, Bruno, and Joao Neves is starting to look like one of the best in the tournament.
Portugal open their World Cup campaign against DR Congo on June 17. Squad announcements come in late May. If this week was a job interview, Bruno Fernandes just made himself undroppable.
Bottom line: Portugal head home unbeaten from this window, having scored against both opponents and conceded nothing against the USA. The seleção are in good shape.
⚡ QUICK HITS
Portugal's tourism boom keeps building. Guest arrivals are up 3.8% year on year, with €276.8 million in tourism revenue already banked in 2026. Hotel occupancy in the north is running 80-85%, and the Algarve is accounting for more than a quarter of all overnight stays. Portugal now ranks 7th on the Global Peace Index, and international media are calling it a "safe haven" destination as travellers avoid the Middle East. That's great for the economy. Whether Lisbon's infrastructure can handle it is another question entirely.
Easter weekend starts tomorrow. Good Friday is a public holiday. Banks, government offices, most shops closed. If you need to do anything administrative, today is your last chance until Monday. The supermarkets will be open but expect crowds this afternoon.
Airport queues are getting worse. The EES biometric system is still causing long waits at Humberto Delgado, and Easter travel is making it worse. If you're flying this weekend, arrive at least three hours early for international flights. EU passport holders can use e-gates; everyone else should pack patience.
Ryanair follow-up. Since yesterday's story on the Azores pullout, several readers have written in asking about alternatives. TAP and Azores Airlines (SATA) still fly from Lisbon and Porto. But fares will be higher and flexibility lower. If you're planning a summer trip, book early.
🍽️ SPOT OF THE DAY
This one comes from reader Sam. Thanks, Sam.
Halfway up Calcada da Estrela, between Parliament and the Basilica, Luli's is the kind of family-run spot that makes a neighbourhood feel like home. It's small, it's personal, and the pastries are baked in-house by people who clearly care about what comes out of the oven.
The menu covers brunch, baked goods, and light lunches. Think freshly baked bread, Italian-influenced pastries, and the kind of cakes that look too good to eat but taste even better than they look. The coffee is solid. The portions are generous. If you're in the Estrela area and you want something made with real hands rather than mass-produced, this is your stop.
The space is cosy rather than cramped, with a warm, lived-in feel that matches the neighbourhood. Estrela doesn't get the foot traffic of Chiado or Principe Real, which is exactly the point. You're eating where the locals eat, on a quiet street between two of Lisbon's most beautiful buildings, and paying neighbourhood prices for it.
Calcada da Estrela 60, Estrela. Breakfast and lunch. Cards accepted. Expect to pay €5-10 for coffee and pastries, a bit more for a full brunch. @lulis.bakerycafe
Insider tip: The walk itself is half the experience. Start at the Basilica da Estrela, wander down the Calcada past the parliament gardens, and stop in at Luli's on the way. It's one of the prettiest 10-minute walks in the city.
Got a spot you think we should feature? Reply to this email with the name and why you love it. The best tips come from readers who live here.
📅 WHAT'S ON THIS WEEKEND
Good Friday (Tomorrow) Public holiday.
Easter Sunday (Sun April 5) Public holiday.
Tame Impala (Sun April 5) MEO Arena. Easter Sunday show.
Rosalia (Wed April 8) MEO Arena. Tickets still available.
Comeres D'Aqui Gastronomic Fortnight (Until April 12) Easter gastronomy festival across Loule, Algarve.
📜 ON THIS DAY
April 2, 1968. Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey received its world premiere at the Uptown Theater in Washington, D.C. The audience didn't know what to make of it. 241 people walked out during the screening, including Rock Hudson, who reportedly asked "Will someone tell me what the hell this is about?" Critics were divided. The studio panicked. Kubrick cut 19 minutes from the film after opening weekend. And then something happened: audiences started showing up in droves.
The film went on to gross over $148 million, win an Academy Award for visual effects, and be recognised as one of the greatest films ever made. Kubrick never explained the ending. He said if the film could be understood entirely through words, there would have been no point in making it. On a Thursday morning before a long weekend, mayeb that’s your permission to stop trying to understand everything and just enjoy the ride.
See you tomorrow morning.
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