We're nearing the end of our 2026 World Cup previews, with Group K up next. Portugal are the favorites to top the group, but Colombia look capable of pulling off an upset and making a run.
We're previewing every group from the World Cup this summer! Read them all here:
SixOneFive Soccer Staff
Also, make sure to get your picks in for our World Cup bracket challenge! You can also use this app to follow results during the tournament.
SixOneFive Soccer Staff
Teams: Portugal 🇵🇹 | DR Congo 🇨🇩 | Uzbekistan 🇺🇿 | Colombia 🇨🇴
Portugal 🇵🇹
FIFA World Ranking: 5
Despite being considered one of the best teams in the world for nearly three decades, Portugal haven’t reached a World Cup semifinal since 2006. They have been much better in European competitions, winning the Euros in 2016 and the UEFA Nations League in 2019 and 2025.
After leading the Belgian golden generation, Roberto Martínez took over as Portugal's manager at the start of 2023. His results with the team have been largely positive, despite the mixed reviews he has received from fans and media. The Spaniard prefers to keep the ball as much as possible, focusing on short passes and movement to create chances.
The Portuguese squad is one of the best in the world, with players at the highest levels of European soccer and five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo leading the line. But will the 41-year-old legend be an asset or a distraction to this team in what is certainly his last hurrah?
How they qualified: Portugal topped their UEFA qualifying group, only losing once.
Best-ever finish: Third place (1966)
Key player: Cristiano Ronaldo is undoubtedly one of the greatest players of all time. It is nearly impossible to list all of his achievements and honors in a timely manner.
He is the all-time goalscorer in international play with 143 goals; no male player has come particularly close to that. He is the only player to score in five different World Cups. With that said, all eight of his World Cup goals have come in the group stage; he will be looking to change that in North America. At 41 years old, he is still expected to play an important role for the national team.
X-factor: João Neves is already one of the best midfielders in the world at 21 years old. The Paris Saint-Germain youngster plays a vital role for his club on both sides of the ball, covering a lot of ground, interplaying with those around him, and advancing the ball forward.
What’s their ceiling? While they aren’t the favorites, they are one of the favorites. On paper, only one or two teams have a better squad than the Portuguese.
Odds to win World Cup: +475
Projection: Portugal will find the group stage easy, but things will break down higher up in the tournament. Quarterfinals are their limit.
Fun fact: Portugal holds the historical record for both the longest-reigning and shortest-reigning monarch. King Henrique of Portugal ruled for more than 73 years, while Luis Filipe served as king for just 20 minutes.
DR Congo 🇨🇩
FIFA World Ranking: 45
It has taken 52 years for the Democratic Republic of Congo to return to the World Cup. That’s so long ago that the country even had a different name. As Zaire, they competed in the 1974 tournament in Germany and lost all three of their games. The Leopards will be looking to get their World Cup result in 2026.
Head coach Sébastien Desabre has spent most of his career in Africa, coaching some of the top club sides. He took charge of DR Congo in 2022 and has achieved positive results, including a fourth-place finish in the 2023 AFCON and qualifying for the World Cup.
How they qualified: Finished second in their qualifying group, only two points behind Senegal. They then beat Cameroon and upset Nigeria in the CAF play-offs. Finally, they beat Jamica in the Inter-confederation play-offs to advance.
Best-ever finish: Group stage (1974)
Key player: Striker Cédric Bakambu is one goal away from equaling the country’s all-time record held by Dieumerci Mbokani. The 35-year-old has played in France, Turkiye, Spain, China, Greece and the UAE. He currently plays for Real Betis in La Liga and has been an important player for the side. He will be aiming to equal and possibly surpass Mbokani’s record at the World Cup.
X-factor: Noah Sadiki played a huge role for Sunderland in their first season back in the Premier League. The 21-year-old helped the Black Cats qualify for Europe and was a central part of everything they did on both sides of the ball. Despite his age, he is one of the key players for the Leapords.
What’s their ceiling? DR Congo will be tough to beat due to their defensive acumen. If they can frustrate the “big dogs” of the group and steal a goal, they might end up in the knockout rounds.
Odds to win World Cup: +100000
Projection: DR Congo will finish last in the group, but they won’t go down without a fight.
Fun fact: DR Congo is the home to the world’s deepest river, the Congo River. It's deeper than 720 feet at some parts, so deep that sunlight cannot penetrate it.
Sign up for in-depth coverage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup!
Uzbekistan 🇺🇿
FIFA World Ranking: 51
Led by Italian legend and Ballon d’Or winner Fabio Cannavaro, Uzbekistan are heading into their first every World Cup. The White Wolves have been one of the better-performing teams in Asia for the previous two decades, and they finally get their chance on the world stage.
Almost all of the squad play their soccer locally or in nearby leagues, with five playing in Iran, two in Türkiye, three in the UAE, and 15 playing in the Uzbek top flight. However, what they might lack in quality, they make up for in belief and hard work.
How they qualified: Finished in a top-two position in their qualifying group
Best-ever finish: Debut
Odds to win World Cup: +150000
Key player: Eldor Shomourdov has spent most of his career playing in Serie A, but is currently on loan to Başakşehir in Turkiye. Shomurdov leads the country in all-time goals and can play in multiple positions in the front line. He will be aiming to score Uzbekistan’s first World Cup goal.
X-factor: Manchester City’s Abdukodir Khusanov is the first Uzbek to play in the Premier League. At 21 years old, he is already the most important piece of the White Wolves’ defense and plays a major role on the national team.
What’s their ceiling? Uzbekistan's organization and discipline might surprise some people at the World Cup. That said, they have fairly limited options, and higher-quality opposition might best them.
Projection: Uzbekistan will finish third but not qualify for the knockout rounds
Fun fact: Uzbekistan is double landlocked, one of only two such countries in the entire world.
Colombia 🇨🇴
FIFA World Ranking: 13
Colombia had an incredible 28-match winning streak that ended only in the 2024 Copa America final against Argentina. Since then, results have been largely positive, but not of the same quality.
Head coach Néstor Lorenzo has been in charge since 2022 and has led the country to their third-ever Copa América final appearance. Before becoming the head coach, the Argentine spent seven years as the assistant for Los Cafeteros. He knows the program and the players well and can get the best out of them.
James Rodríguez burst onto the scene during the 2014 World Cup, and he remains an important part of this team. While not a full-time starter, the 34-year-old is still capable of magical moments in any given game. Aside from Rodríguez, Colombia have a healthy mixture of European and South American-based players in their squad.
How they qualified: Finished third in the CONMEBOL qualifiers, tied in points with Uruguay, Brazil and Paraguay.
Best-ever finish: Quarterfinal (2014)
Odds to win World Cup: +4000
Key player: Luis Díaz is one of the most exciting players in world soccer. The former Porto and Liverpool winger made a €75 million switch to Bayern Munich last summer. His debut season with the Bavarian has been nothing short of extraordinary, contributing with 45 goals in 51 matches. The 29-year-old is already the fourth all-time goalscorer for Colombia and is only three goals away from breaking into the top three.
X-factor: While CP Sporting’s Luis Suárez seems to have solidified his spot as the starting striker, Juan “Cucho” Hernández will be looking to be the first attacking option off the bench. The former Columbus Crew and current Real Betis man is capable of deciding the game and has an abundance of quality. He can fill in multiple positions in attack, but will likely be used mostly as a striker.
What’s their ceiling? There’s a world where Colombia can recreate history and reach the quarterfinals again, even possibly go further. However, beyond the starting XI, the team is not as deep as others in the same realm.
Projection: Colombia will reach the round of 16 and be eliminated by one of the World Cup favorites. Possibly Spain.
Fun fact: Colombia is the only country in South America with coastlines touching both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans
Group K Wrap
Predicted final standings
| Pos | Team | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🇵🇹 Portugal | Advances to Round of 32 |
| 2 | 🇨🇴 Colombia | Advances to Round of 32 |
| 3 | 🇺🇿 Uzbekistan | Best-third-place contender |
| 4 | 🇨🇩 DR Congo | Eliminated |
The match that decides it: Portugal vs Colombia
Best-third-place watch: Uzbekistan take on DR Congo in their final match of the group stage. There’s a strong chance that a draw won’t help either team, given their prior results. If either win the match, there’s a strong possibility they’ll make the knockout round for the first time in their history.
