Overview

• Coach Roberto Martinez confirmed the shirt reassignment during his first squad announcement since Jota’s death.
• Martinez said Jota’s absence will serve as unity and motivation as Portugal chase the World Cup goal he cherished.
• Neves, now at Al-Hilal, was a pallbearer at Jota’s funeral and was his longtime teammate through Portugal’s youth teams, FC Porto and Wolves.
• Portugal open qualifying against Armenia on Sept. 6 and Hungary on Sept. 9, with Cristiano Ronaldo and João Félix named to the squad.
• Jota, 28, died with his brother André Silva in a July car crash in northwestern Spain, and Liverpool have retired his No. 20 club shirt in tribute.