From Lisbon’s narrow alleys to the terraces of Porto, when Portuguese football fans rally behind their national team, you’ll often hear them referred to as Selecão das Quinas supporters. But why this distinctive moniker? What does “Quinas” mean, and how did it become so central to Portuguese football identity? In this article, CantoKick will take you on a journey through history, symbolism, culture, and fandom to fully answer why are Portugal fans called selecão das quinas supporters.
The origin of the nickname “Selecão das Quinas”
What does “Quinas” refer to?
The word quina in Portuguese is closely associated with the heraldic shields that appear on the Portuguese coat of arms and the national flag. Historically, the arms of Portugal display five blue shields (quina shields), each dotted with five smaller white circles (bezants). These shields are rich in medieval symbolism tied to Portuguese identity and the foundation myths of the nation. Over time, the term “Quinas” (plural) came to represent those five shields collectively.
###. Football federations and media began to refer to the side as Selecção das Quinas—literally, “the selection (team) of the Quinas.” The logic was simple: these shields, so central to Portugal’s visual identity, were now transferred to the football jersey, to the badge, and into the hearts of supporters.
Thus, rather than using a generic name like “the Portuguese team,” fans and commentators bonded with a name that evokes centuries of national pride.
How “Selecão das Quinas” became the fans’ identity
Symbolic affinity
It is one thing for a nickname to apply to players—but in Portugal, it naturally extended to fans as well. When supporters wear scarlet and green, brandish flags, and chant in stadiums, they see themselves as not merely backing a team, but representing the Quinas themselves. Calling them “Selecão das Quinas supporters” is to bind fan identity to national symbolism.
Media, culture, and repetition
Over decades, newspapers, broadcasters, and fan communities repeated the nickname. Effervescent commentary, headlines, match posters and chants all reinforced “Selecão das Quinas.” With constant exposure in cultural and sporting discourse, the term stuck—not just for the players, but also for those who followed them religiously.
Emotional resonance
Portugal’s more agonizing football history—narrow defeats, heartbreaks, near misses—gave depth to the name. Fans embraced it with longing and pride. It elicits a sense of continuity: supporting the shields of the nation has become a generational duty. In this way, Selecão das Quinas is more than a label—it is a banner under which passion, frustration, joy, and identity converge.
Key symbols behind the nickname
The five blue shields
The quintet of shields is not random. Inside each shield are five white bezants (small circles) arranged in a cross, symbolizing divine intervention. Over time, that legend became inseparable.
The broader Portuguese coat of arms
Encircling the blue shields is the red border containing seven gold castles—each castle representing historical border fortresses. The design, with green and red field, is present on the national flag. When the football crest uses that same emblem, it brings all medieval symbolism into the modern arena.
Modern adoption on kits and merchandise
The Portuguese national team jersey nearly always includes these shields—with stylized or simplified versions depending on era and design. Every fan shirt, pin, decal, or flag becomes a replica of that heraldic identity. Wearing it is to wear the Quinas on your chest, and thus fans become walking flag-bearers of the name.
Why “Selecão das Quinas supporters” rather than just “fans of Portugal”?
Exclusivity and identity
Every national side has supporters, but very few have a nickname that speaks directly to its symbols. Saying a fan is a “Selecão das Quinas supporter” asserts a dee. It is not just “I support Portugal,” but “I support the Quinas,” a statement of identity rooted in history and heraldry.
Differentiation from other terms
While Portugal is sometimes called A Seleção or “the selection,” those terms are generic and used in several Lusophone contexts. Selecão das Quinas is uniquely Portuguese and tied to its emblem. It sets Portugal apart in the global football lexicon.
A bridge between fans and players
Using the same nickname for players and supporters blurs the line: fans become part of the team psychologically. When commentators yell “Vamos, Selecão das Quinas!”, the roar includes players and fans in one chorus. This unification strengthens fandom and national solidarity.
Not just football: cross-sport usage
Interestingly, the nickname Selecão das Quinas is not confined to the men’s football team. It appears across various Portuguese national disciplines—women’s football, beach soccer, futsal, youth teams—even roller hockey occasionally adopt it. This shows that the nickname has transcended a single sport to become a broader national sporting identifier.
That said, its strongest emotional resonance resides in the senior men’s football team—where global exposure, legends, records, and tournaments make “the Quinas” an anthem all over the world.
Examples of the nickname in action
- During international tournaments, headlines often read: “Selecão das Quinas Draw With Spain” or “How Selecão das Quinas Reach Euro Quarter-Finals”.
- Supporters’ banners at stadiums will often include “Os Quinas” or “Viva a Selecão das Quinas.”
- In fan chants, you’ll hear: “Vamos, Quinas!” or “Quinas acima de tudo!”
- Commentators invoke the term when praising national pride: “The Quinas march on” or “A vitória dos Quinas.”
These usages reinforce the term, embedding it into language, emotion, and expectation.
Common questions about the nickname
| Question | Answer |
| Is “Quinas” a word in other languages? | No, it’s specific to Portuguese heraldry and Portuguese language usage. |
| Do all Portuguese supporters embrace this? | Nearly all do, though some casual or newer fans might still say “Portugal” or “Seleção.” The nickname remains deeply mainstream. |
| Has the nickname changed over time? | Variations like “Os Navegadores” or just “A Seleção” appear, but Selecão das Quinas remains the most recognized and enduring. |
| Does this nickname apply in youth or women’s football? | Yes—many national teams under the Portuguese Football Federation use the same moniker in youth, women’s, beach soccer, and other disciplines. |
Conclusion
Why are Portugal fans called selecão das quinas supporters? Because those fans see themselves as custodians of Portugal’s most emblematic symbols. The Quinas—the five shields on Portugal’s coat of arms—are not only central to national identity, but they now serve as the bridge between football and heritage. Calling oneself a Selecão das Quinas supporter is to claim not just allegiance to a team, but to the very spirit of Portugal itself.
Now that you know the story behind the nickname, next time you chant or read a headline about the Quinas, you’ll feel that dee, let CantoKick be your next stop—where legends, facts, and passion meet.
