World Cup 2026 Group K
GROUP K
| Team | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
| Colombia | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 7 |
| Portugal | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 5 |
| DR Congo | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| Uzbekistan | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 0 |
Sean O'Conor
[Team Jersey Images © Soccerphile]
Portugal
Portugal are definitely in the mix. FIFA-ranked 5th and with a European Championship and two Nations League titles in the past decade, they should be quarter-finalists at least.
Expectation in this normally soccer-mad country is intense as there is a widely-held belief this is their strongest-ever squad. Certainly in midfield, there are probably no equals. PSG's Joao Neves and the excellent Vitinha are augmented by the vision of Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes and Manchester City's Bernardo Silva, with Milan forward Rafael Leao, Chelsea's Pedro Neto and PSG's Goncalo Ramos offering fast and skilful options to score.
Plus there is Cristiano Ronaldo, aged 41. While the Madeiran will be desperate to finally win the one trophy he wants more than any other, we can expect the same criticism levelled in 2022 that the team was carrying him on his name.
Passionately defended by his manager Roberto Martinez, because Ronaldo has lost pace he prefers to make the odd sprint in the final third than close down or track back regularly, so is unlikely to last the 90 over eight games in the American heat. But is he too big to leave out? It seems so.
At the back, Porto custodian Diogo Costa is reliable, as are full backs Joao Cancelo (Barcelona) and Nuno Mendes, who adds to the Champions League holders PSG contingent. Manchester City's Ruben Dias is a sure choice at centre-back but his partner is less so. The defence has appeared less than comfortable with crosses recently, conceded four to Hungary over two World Cup qualifiers and lost 2-0 to Ireland in Dublin in November, so they are definitely breachable.
True to their traditions, Portugal play a quick-passing possession game but can struggle to break down massed defences. He might not be that charismatic, but Martinez has done little wrong since becoming coach in 2023. A 100% record in Euro 2024 qualifying led to a penalty shootout last eight exit to France, while the Lusitanians won the 2025 UEFA Nations League beating Spain on penalties in the final. Then came a successful World Cup qualification with four wins, a draw (against Hungary) and the loss to the Irish.
While the first two games look like cakewalks given the gap in FIFA rankings, Colombia will be a tougher nut to crack, although one suspects the top two teams in the group will have qualified already.
Portugal will be properly tested, probably around the quarter-final mark, but they have the ability to go all the way. The issue of the undroppable Ronaldo and whether he is a help or a hindrance is sure to crop up again however.
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Portugal Kit 1 |
Portugal Kit 2 |
Portugal v DR Congo, 17th June, Houston
Portugal v Uzbekistan, 23rd June, Houston
Portugal v Colombia, 27th June, Miami
Coach
Coach: Roberto Martinez
Record
Best World Cup: Third Place 1966.
Formation
4-3-3
Men to watch: Vitinha, Nuno Mendes, Joao Neves, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Priced as low as 10/1 to win the cup, Portugal are one of the favourites. Anything less than the quarter-finals would be seen as a failure.
How they qualified
Winners of UEFA Group F.
On the sidelines
Teenage Porto striker Rodrigo Mora missed the boat, as did Braga skipper Ricardo Horta and Tottenham midfielder Joao Pahlinha, despite his 38 caps.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa (Porto), Jose Sa (Wolves), Rui Silva (Sporting), Ricardo Velho (Genclerbirligi)
Defenders: Diogo Dalot (Manchester United), Matheus Nunes (Manchester City), Ruben Dias (Manchester City), Nelson Semedo (Fenerbahce), Joao Cancelo (Barcelona), Nuno Mendes (Paris St-Germain), Goncalo Inacio (Sporting), Renato Veiga (Villarreal), Tomas Araujo (Benfica)
Midfielders: Ruben Neves (Al-Hilal), Samu Costa (Mallorca), Joao Neves (Paris St-Germain), Vitinha (Paris St-Germain), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)
Strikers: Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr), Joao Felix (Al-Nassr), Francisco Trincao (Sporting), Francisco Conceicao (Juventus), Pedro Neto (Chelsea), Rafael Leao (AC Milan), Goncalo Guedes (Real Sociedad), Goncalo Ramos (Paris St-Germain)
DR Congo
The Leopards of Zaire will roar again at the World Cup for the first time in half a century.
And the only way is up. At the 1974 World Cup in Germany, the first sub-Saharan nation at the finals lost three without scoring a goal, including a 9-0 mauling by Yugoslavia. Mwepu Ilunga taking the free kick for Brazil (a bizarre protest against his country's dictator) remains one of the World Cup's iconic moments.
A surprise qualifier, the Leopards overcame established continental kings Cameroon and Nigeria in the knockout second round, signalling an African power shift. It was about time. The country has a population of 124 million (by some estimates), the continent's fourth largest, and its capital Kinshasa alone has between 17 and 22 million people. But, decades of civil wars have plagued one of the world's most mineral-wealthy lands and held back development in all areas, including football.
They are still battling external obstacles. On the eve of the tournament, the outbreak of Ebola in central Africa meant the Leopards had to cancel their training camp in Kinshasa, while US authorities are insisting on 21-day isolation for anyone visiting their country who has been to D.R. Congo recently. This should not be a problem for the European-based players but many fans have had to cancel their travel plans at the last minute, or had visas denied.
A CV of only an embarrassing World Cup participation 52 years ago is proof of an untapped soccer mine, but they have shown more in the African Cup of Nations in recent years, reaching the last four in 2015 and 2023. Last year they went out in the Round of 16 1-0 to Algeria.
In charge of writing a new chapter is 49-year-old Frenchman Sébastien Desabre, who has been in the job since 2022 after more than a decade coaching across Africa. Desabre has mined the second-generation community - only five of the 26-man squad were born in Africa, and all play in Europe with two exceptions who play in the Middle East. Despite having players from disparate origins, Desabre has forged a cohesive and motivated unit who attack and defend as a group and arrive determined to take the game to their opponents with a high press.
Newcastle's Yoane Wissa has blossomed playing in the hole and up front they have a genuine goal threat in Real Betis' Cedric Bakambu, who aged 35 is still banging them in and sits only one goal short of becoming his country's record goalscorer. A useful recent addition has been the rampaging wing-back play of West Ham's Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who declared himself available for his parents' country last summer, and slotted straight in, forming a dangerous right flank with Alanyaspor's Meschak Elia, number five on Congo's all-time scorers list.
Spartak Moscow's Theo Bongonda and Montpellier's Nathaniel Mbuku add to the pacy wing options, while the central duo are tough cookies - Sunderland's Noah Sadiki and Atromitos Samuel Moutoussamy have strong and powerful motors. Plus all the back four have Premier League experience so any talk of 'naive' African defending can be thrown in the bin straight away.
DR Congo, like Uzbekistan, are in a tough group but they appear to have what it takes to bag one of the top two slots for advancing automatically to the knockout stages. In an increasingly globalised football world, it is hard to pinpoint a dark horse, but the Leopards could well be a break-out team of the tournament. Final friendlies against Denmark and Chile should confirm whether this is a team everyone needs to be wary of.
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DRC Kit 1 |
DRC Kit 2 |
DR Congo v Portugal, 17th June, Houston
DR Congo v Colombia, 23rd June, Guadalajara
DR Congo v Uzbekistan, 27th June, Atlanta
Coach
Sébastien Desabre
Record
Best World Cup: 1974 Group Stage (as Zaire).
Formation
4-3-3, 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1
Men to watch: Cedric Bakambu, Yoane Wissa. Mechak Elia, Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Congo are 1000/1 to lift the cup but could well cause an upset or two and make it into the knockout stages. They will do much better than in 1974 for sure.
How they qualified
DR Congo finished second in Group B behind Senegal before beating Cameroon 1-0 and Nigeria 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw. In the intercontinental playoff they beat Jamaica 1-0.
On the sidelines
Defender Axel Tuanzebe briefly held the world record for the fastest finish of a game of Hungry Hippos. Superfan Michel Mboladinga, known as Lumumba Vea because attends matches dressed like the country's first prime minister Patrice Lumumba and in a statuesque pose, will sadly not be at the finals after Mexico denied his visa request.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Matthieu Epolo (Standard Liege), Timothy Fayulu (Noah), Lionel Mpasi (Le Havre)
Defenders: Dylan Batubinsika (Larisa), Gedoon Kalulu (Aris Limassol), Steve Kapuadi (Widzew Lodz), Joris Kayembe (Racing Genk), Arthur Masuaku (Racing Lens), Chancel Mbemba (Lille), Axel Tuanzebe (Burnley), Aaron Wan-Bissaka (West Ham United)
Midfielders: Theo Bongonda (Spartak Moscow), Brian Cipenga (Castellon), Meshack Elia (Alanyaspor), Gael Kakuta (Larisa), Edo Kayembe (Watford), Nathanael Mbuku (Montpellier), Samuel Moutoussamy (Atromitos), Ngal'ayel Mukau (Lille), Charles Pickel (Espanyol), Noah Sadiki (Sunderland), Aaron Tshibola (Kilmarnock)
Strikers: Cedric Bakambu (Real Betis), Simon Banza (Al Jazira), Fiston Mayele (Pyramids), Yoane Wissa (Newcastle United)
Uzbekistan
Another first time qualifier, the Uzbeks are also flying the flag for Central Asia, who have never sent a country to the World Cup before. World Cup expansion has had its criticisms, but try telling that to a landlocked country of 38 million who are elated to be on the biggest stage for the first time and will be glued to the television in June.
The White Wolves may be ranked 50th in the world but 20 years ago were 118th, which shows how far they have come. In fact they have come close to qualifying for the previous two editions, only to mess up in the final stages, so this year means they can shake off their 'nearly men' tag at last and end the recurring jokes in Uzbek culture about them falling at the final hurdle.
In the third and final round of Asian qualifiers they finished comfortably six points clear of the UAE to make it to the States, losing only one game in ten, 3-2 away to Qatar. In their ten games since qualifying last summer, they have only lost once, 2-1 to Uruguay, but beaten fellow qualifiers Egypt and Iran. At the last Asian Cup in 2023, they reached the quarter-finals, losing only on penalties to hosts Qatar. All these results suggest these first-timers are no slouches.
The squad is still largely unknown beyond Uzbekistan. Their only big league footballer is Manchester City centre back Abdukodir Khusanov, who has played 27 times for City and whom Pep Guardiola called "a top player" earlier this year. The rest ply their trade domestically, in Iran or in Turkey.
The White Wolves might be World Cup virgins, but their manager certainly is not. No less than the 2006 World Cup winning-captain and FIFA World Player of the Year Fabio Cannavaro is in the hot seat, hired last October to have an experienced man at the helm for the tournament. A real coup, the Italian legend, who brings a backroom staff of his countryman to the dugout, is actually no stranger in these parts - Uzbekistan is the sixth Asian team he has coached.
In interviews, Cannavaro stresses the need for the Uzbeks to play with more intensity, lamenting the slow pace of the domestic game, as well as the need for his players to up their general fitness. Traditional minnows' virtues of team work and hard work must therefore be paramount if the first-timers are to avoid any embarrassing scorelines in the States. As for many countries, the American humidity might be a challenge but the heat will not be as Uzbekistan is a hot and dusty country where the average summer high temperature is 40 Celsius.
Cannavaro has shuffled his numbers across the back in recent games and as a world-class defender himself, it is clear that is the part of the side he is most concerned with. They kept a clean sheet in six of their nine qualifiers. It will be no surprise then that the White Wolves will be loath to leave their lair in America, hoping to neutralise opponents and hit them on the break. Maybe they have eleven magicians waiting to perform but one assumes an open approach with a high line would be asking for trouble from the more experienced Colombia and Portugal, both of whom possess transition speed and world-class attackers.
At the other end of the pitch, much is expected of lone striker Eldor Shomurodov to give the fans something to cheer about. The 30-year-old Istanbul Basaksehir player has four years of Serie A experience at Roma, Genoa, La Spezia and Cagliari under his belt and 44 goals in 90 appearances for his country.
Supporting him in attack are some pacy wingers in Persepolis' Oston Uranov, Basaksehir's Abbosbek Faysullaev, who could be a breakout star, and Esteghlal's Jallolidin Masharipov. Still a largely unknown quantity going into the tournament, a rarity in the internet age, Uzbekistan face a baptism of fire against Colombia in Mexico City, followed by Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal in Houston.
Their last group game against D.R. Congo offers them their best chance of a win and with ⅔ of third-place teams advancing to the Round of 32, we might be watching Uzbekistan for longer than expected.
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Uzbekistan Kit 1 |
Uzbekistan Kit 2 |
Uzbekistan v Colombia, 17th June, Mexico City
Uzbekistan v Portugal, 23rd June, Houston
Uzbekistan v DR Congo, 28th June, Atlanta
Coach
Fabio Cannavaro
Record
First-time qualifiers 2026.
Formation
3-4-2-1 or 4-2-3-1
Men to watch: Eldor Shomurodov, Abdukodir Khusanov, Abbosbek Fayzullaev.
The Uzbeks are 2000/1 to win the cup, and while Colombia and Portugal look too strong for them, there is a good chance they could make it to the second round.
How they qualified
Second in Group A of the Third Round of AFC qualifying gave them automatic passage to the finals.
On the sidelines
The nation gave the team a grand send-off in Tashkent in May. "Our footballers can rightfully be called heroes of our time," President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said, "who have opened a new page in the history of Uzbekistan. They have brought great joy to our people."
Squad
Goalkeepers: Utkir Yusupov (Navbahor), Abduvohid Nematov (Nasaf), Botirali Ergashev (Neftchi)
Defenders: Rustam Ashurmatov (Esteghlal), Farrukh Sayfiev (Neftchi), Khojiakbar Alijonov (Pakhtakor), Sherzod Nasrullaev (Nasaf), Umar Eshmurodov (Nasaf), Abdukodir Khusanov (Manchester City), Abdulla Abdullaev (Dibba), Bekhruz Karimov (Surkhon), Jakhongir Urozov (Dinamo Samarqand), Avazbek Ulmasaliev (AGMK)
Midfielders: Otabek Shukurov (Baniyas), Jaloliddin Masharipov (Esteghlal), Odiljon Hamrobekov (Tractor), Oston Urunov (Persepolis), Jamshid Iskanderov (Neftchi), Dostonbek Khamdamov (Pakhtakor), Abbosbek Fayzullaev (Istanbul Basaksehir), Akmal Mozgovoy (Pakhtakor), Azizjon Ganiev (Al Bataeh), Sherzod Esanov (Bukhara)
Strikers: Eldor Shomurodov (Istanbul Basaksehir, on loan from Roma), Igor Sergeev (Persepolis), Azizbek Amonov (Bukhara)
Colombia
Los Cafeteros (the coffee makers) are excited to be back at the mundial having missed out on 2022 after drawing eight of their 18 qualifiers.
Qualification was not all plain sailing though - a six game drought without a win in late 2024 had many fearing a repeat of 2022 and there were calls for boss Nestor Lorenzo's head. But resounding victories in their final two games and other results carried them to the States comfortably in the end.
Beating both Argentina and Brazil at home were great morale boosters, as was avoiding defeat away to the world champions in Buenos Aires. Lorenzo, who was assistant to fellow Argentinian Jose Pekerman throughout his seven-year reign at the helm, has shown moments of great promise - beating the two South American giants in qualifying and Germany and Spain in friendlies.
His high point however was reaching the 2024 Copa America final, their first since winning it in 2001, where only an extra-time Argentine goal denied them a repeat victory. This recent American experience will surely prove useful as they will be back in Miami, where they lost the final, to play Portugal, well aware the Floridan city has the largest Colombian expat population in the USA. It is also humid there, much like Baranquilla, where Los Cafeteros play their home games.
The Colombian Football Federation have been doing their best to prepare; since qualifying last autumn they have played six friendlies in various American cities starting with a morale-boosting 4-0 win over co-hosts Mexico in Texas. A draw with Canada was followed by wins over Australia and New Zealand. So far, so good.
But then 2026 saw a 2-1 loss to Croatia in Orlando and more worryingly, a 3-1 defeat to a less than first-choice France in Maryland, a result which tempered most expectations that this year could be Colombia's golden moment. The Coffee Makers struggled to contain France's fast counter-attack and left the field a sober second to Les Bleus.
Colombia have long been a sleeping giant of world soccer and are well aware a World Cup in the Americas offers them their best chance to impress. Brazil 2014 remains the benchmark. The Pekerman-led squad had lost their talisman Falcao to injury that spring but still had their best World Cup ever, reaching the last eight where they lost 2-1 to an over-muscular host nation who were rotation fouling Colombia's young prodigy James Rodriguez.
James still won the Golden Boot that World Cup for his six goals and with it the summer's biggest transfer move, to Real Madrid, where he was player of the season under Carlo Ancelotti.
12 years and eight different clubs later, James at the age of 34 should be old news but instead he is still the fulcrum of the team for his creativity.
His footballing brain still purrs with on-field intelligence as he threads killer passes through the final third to speedier colleagues. His perennial injury worries and bizarre career choices have meant he has not stayed long at any club, but in spite of a peripatetic professional life, he is still Colombia's main man.
Their other ace in the pack is Luis Diaz, who has had an exceptional season on the left wing for Bayern Munich, netting 15 in 32 games following his successful three seasons at Anfield. Expect James to Diaz being said several times by commentators in June and July.
They are Colombia's twin peaks, but they also have an excellent right wing back in Daniel Muñoz, whose flying forays for Crystal Palace the past two seasons have won him a legion of admirers.
Richard Rios, Benfica's central midfielder, is also highly coveted by big clubs and at 25 is nearing the prime of his career. Another Palace man, Jefferson Lerma, who has spent seven seasons in the Premier League, should line up alongside him in the middle with Palmeiras' Jhon Arias on the left. A likely substitute - Vasco da Gama's Carlos Gomez offers some dangerous wing attacking while River Plate's Juan Quintero is back in the squad as cover for James, who could break down at any moment. Quintero has vision and free kick creativity but has never quite consistently reached the level he has promised.
The No.9 shirt should be worn by Sporting Lisbon's Luis Suarez, who has bided his time but took his chance with aplomb in the final qualifier and bagged four goals against Venezuela. The other striking options are less exciting since Radamel Falcao left the scene. Real Betis' Cucho Hernandez and Krasnodar Jhon Cordoba are unlikely as gamechangers. Former incumbent Rafael Borré of Internacional has slipped out of contention, while Jhon Duran, electrifying at Aston Villa, slipped down the rankings since he left England for Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Russia and in the end, though still only 22, was not selected.
On the flip side however, that leaves worries about an exposed backline. Davinson Sanchez, now of Galatasaray, still commands central defence but long-time partner Yerry Mina is less likely to start than Bologna's Jhon Lucumi. With Muñoz a lock on the right, the left wing-back will probably be another familiar face in Mallorca's Johan Mojica, who offers plenty of forward energy but can be caught out on the back foot.
129-cap David Ospina has given way to Atlas' Camilo Vargas as first choice custodian but is on the plane as back-up alongside Velez Sarsfield's Álvaro Montero. All in all, Colombia have some aces in the first eleven but a less than profound squad should they get injured.
Colombia play on the front foot, press and transition quickly, so expect some entertainment at the World Cup. Traditionally mercurial and unpredictable - think Faustino Asprilla, Rene Higuita and Carlos Valderrama, Los Cafeteros now play in a more disciplined manner, but have not lost touch with their roots.
Their country and culture are just too colourful to produce a national team bent on limiting creativity and neutralising opponents.
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Colombia Kit 1 |
Colombia Kit 2 |
Colombia v Uzbekistan, 18th June, Mexico City
Colombia v DR Congo, 24th June, Guadalajara
Colombia v Portugal, 28th June, Miami
Coach
Nestor Lorenzo
Record
Best World Cup: Quarter-Finalists 2014.
Formation
4-2-3-1
Men to watch: Luis Diaz, James Rodriguez, Richard Rios.
Colombia are about 250/1 to win the tournament. The loss to France confirms they are very unlikely to do so, but expect a long run from the coffee-makers on reasonably familiar territory.
How they qualified
Colombia finished third in CONMEBOL qualifying to bag one of the six automatic spots.
On the sidelines
The great Brian Clough tried to sign Nestor Lorenzo after he watched him play for Argentina in the Italia '90 final but the move broke down. Compatriot Ossie Ardiles instead snapped him up for Swindon Town, for whom he played 24 times, scoring twice.
Luis Diaz is part of the Wayuu, an ethnic group from the north-eastern tip of Colombia who have resisted Spanish colonialism for centuries and were featured prominently in the 2018 film Birds of Passage.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Camilo Vargas (Atlas), Alvaro Montero (Velez Sarsfield), David Ospina (Atletico Nacional)
Defenders: Davinson Sanchez (Galatasaray), Jhon Lucumi (Bologna), Yerry Mina (Cagliari), Willer Ditta (Cruz Azul), Daniel Munoz (Crystal Palace), Santiago Arias (Independiente), Johan Mojica (Mallorca), Deiver Machado (Nantes)
Midfielders: Richard Rios (Benfica), Jefferson Lerma (Crystal Palace), Kevin Castano (River Plate), Juan Camilo Portilla (Athletico Paranaense), Gustavo Puerta (Racing de Santander), Jhon Arias (Palmeiras), Jorge Carrascal (Flamengo), Juan Fernando Quintero (River Plate), James Rodriguez (Minnesota United), Jaminton Campaz (Rosario Central)
Strikers: Juan Camilo Hernandez (Real Betis), Luis Diaz (Bayern Munich), Luis Suarez (Sporting), Carlos Andres Gomez (Vasco da Gama), Jhon Cordoba (Krasnodar)
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