Team profile
World Cup Group K betting preview and tips
Portugal are favourites to win Group K at the FIFA World Cup, with Roberto Martinez’s side priced at 1.45 to top a section also featuring Colombia, DR Congo and Uzbekistan.
Portugal are expected to qualify comfortably for the Round of 32 with international betting sites, but this group should still provide plenty of intrigue behind the favourites.
Colombia return to the World Cup with Luis Diaz and James Rodriguez leading a dangerous South American squad, DR Congo are back on the global stage after a 52-year wait, while Uzbekistan make history as the first Central Asian nation to qualify for a senior men’s World Cup.
MORE: World Cup 2026
Portugal are the clear favourites to win Group K at 1.45 and will carry serious hopes of a deep tournament run. Cristiano Ronaldo is back for what will surely be his final World Cup, but this is no one-man squad, with Ruben Dias, Nuno Mendes, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Vitinha, Joao Neves and Rafael Leao giving Portugal elite quality across the park.
Colombia are second favourites to top the group at 3.55 and look the obvious danger. Nestor Lorenzo’s side finished third in CONMEBOL qualifying, reached the 2024 Copa America final and have enough attacking class through Diaz, James Rodriguez, Jhon Arias and Jhon Cordoba to trouble anyone in this section.
DR Congo are priced at 21.00 to win Group K, but the Leopards are not just here to make up the numbers. Sebastien Desabre has built a disciplined, counter-attacking side around Chancel Mbemba, Noah Sadiki, Cedric Bakambu and Yoane Wissa, and they could be dangerous if Colombia or Portugal slip up.
Uzbekistan are outsiders at 41.00 to win Group K, but their qualification is already historic. Fabio Cannavaro has a settled squad built around defensive structure, with Abdukodir Khusanov, Eldor Shomurodov and Abbosbek Fayzullaev giving the White Wolves enough quality to believe they can be competitive on debut.
Lets take a deep dive into each Group K team’s prospects, including their captains, coaches, past World Cup results, predicted lineups and much more.
Group K Squads
🇵🇹 Portugal
- Manager: Roberto Martinez
- Captain: Cristiano Ronaldo
- Group K winner odds: 1.45
- Qualify Group K odds: 1.04
Portugal have the strongest squad in Group K and may have one of the most complete groups of players at the entire tournament. Ronaldo will dominate the headlines as he chases a fairytale ending at the age of 41, but Portugal’s real strength is the quality around him. Dias anchors the defence, Mendes offers elite thrust from left-back, Bruno Fernandes remains a major goal threat from midfield, and the PSG pairing of Vitinha and Joao Neves gives Martinez technical control in the centre of the pitch. Rafael Leao, Pedro Neto, Francisco Conceicao and Goncalo Ramos add speed and variety in attack. Anything less than top spot would be a disappointment, and Portugal look capable of making a serious run deep into the knockout rounds. Portugal is paying 11.00 to win the World Cup, with several pundits the World Gambling List respects tipping them as their winners.
- Confederation: UEFA
- Best World Cup: Third place (1966)
- World Cup qualifications: Nine (1966, 1986, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2026)
- Overall World Cup record: P35 W17 D6 L12 F61 A41
- How they qualified: Portugal qualified through UEFA qualifying.
- Predicted lineup: Diogo Costa; Cancelo, Dias, Inacio, Mendes; Vitinha, Joao Neves, Bruno Fernandes; Bernardo Silva, Ronaldo, Leao.
- Squad: Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa, Jose Sa, Rui Silva, Ricardo Velho.
Defenders: Ruben Dias, Joao Cancelo, Diogo Dalot, Nuno Mendes, Nelson Semedo, Matheus Nunes, Goncalo Inacio, Renato Veiga, Tomas Araujo.
Midfielders: Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Vitinha, Joao Neves, Ruben Neves, Samu Costa.
Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo, Rafael Leao, Joao Felix, Goncalo Ramos, Pedro Neto, Francisco Conceicao, Goncalo Guedes, Francisco Trincao.
🇨🇴 Colombia
- Manager: Nestor Lorenzo
- Captain: James Rodriguez
- Group K winner odds: 3.55
- Qualify Group K odds: 1.10
Colombia missed the 2022 World Cup, but they return with a squad good enough to make noise in North America. Lorenzo’s side finished third in CONMEBOL qualifying with 28 points, edging Uruguay and Brazil on goal difference, and the memory of their extra-time defeat to Argentina in the 2024 Copa America final should give this group added motivation. Diaz arrives in outstanding form after a Bundesliga-winning season with Bayern Munich, while James Rodriguez remains the creative leader and captain. David Ospina brings World Cup experience in goal, Daniel Munoz and Jefferson Lerma give Colombia Premier League quality, and the defensive pairing of Davinson Sanchez and Jhon Lucumi looks settled. Colombia should qualify, and their final group match against Portugal in Miami could decide top spot.
- Confederation: CONMEBOL
- Best World Cup: Quarter-finals (2014)
- World Cup qualifications: Seven (1962, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2014, 2018, 2026)
- Overall World Cup record: P22 W9 D3 L10 F32 A30
- How they qualified: Colombia finished third in CONMEBOL qualifying with 28 points.
- Predicted lineup: Ospina; Munoz, Sanchez, Lucumi, Mojica; Lerma, Rios; Arias, James Rodriguez, Diaz; Cordoba.
- Squad: Goalkeepers: David Ospina, Alvaro Montero, Camilo Vargas.
Defenders: Daniel Munoz, Jhon Lucumi, Santiago Arias, Davinson Sanchez, Johan Mojica, Yerry Mina, Willer Ditta, Deiver Machado.
Midfielders: Jorge Carrascal, Kevin Castano, Gustavo Puerta, Juan Fernando Quintero, Juan Portilla, Jefferson Lerma, Richard Rios, Jhon Arias, James Rodriguez, Jaminton Campaz.
Forwards: Luis Diaz, Jhon Cordoba, Luis Suarez, Andres Gomez, Cucho Hernandez.
🇨🇩 DR Congo
- Manager: Sebastien Desabre
- Captain: Chancel Mbemba
- Group K winner odds: 21.00
- Qualify Group K odds: 2.20
DR Congo are back at the World Cup for the first time since 1974, when they competed as Zaire, and this is a major moment for a football nation that has waited more than half a century to return to the global stage. Desabre has transformed the Leopards into a much more disciplined and resilient team, leading them to fourth place at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and through a demanding qualification path. Defensive solidity is the foundation, with DR Congo keeping eight clean sheets in 13 World Cup qualifiers, while Bakambu, Wissa and Bongonda give them speed and threat in transition. The concern is whether they have enough quality against the very best sides, but they should be right in the battle for third and will believe they can put pressure on Colombia.
- Confederation: CAF
- Best World Cup: Group stage (1974)
- World Cup qualifications: Two (1974, 2026)
- Overall World Cup record: P3 W0 D0 L3 F0 A14
- How they qualified: DR Congo came through CAF qualifying and the playoffs after finishing behind Senegal in their group.
- Predicted lineup: Mpasi; Wan-Bissaka, Mbemba, Tuanzebe, Masuaku; Sadiki, Pickel, Kayembe; Bongonda, Bakambu, Wissa.
- Squad: Goalkeepers: Lionel Mpasi, Timothy Fayulu, Matthieu Epolo.
Defenders: Chancel Mbemba, Axel Tuanzebe, Arthur Masuaku, Gedeon Kalulu, Joris Kayembe, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Aaron Tshibola, Steve Kapuadi, Dylan Batubinsika.
Midfielders: Noah Sadiki, Charles Pickel, Edo Kayembe, Samuel Moutoussamy, Ngal’ayel Mukau, Nathanael Mbuku, Meschak Elia, Brian Cipenga, Gael Kakuta, Theo Bongonda.
Forwards: Simon Banza, Yoane Wissa, Fiston Mayele, Cedric Bakambu.
🇺🇿 Uzbekistan
- Manager: Fabio Cannavaro
- Captain: Eldor Shomurodov
- Group K winner odds: 41.00
- Qualify Group K odds: 3.05
Uzbekistan are one of the great stories of the 2026 World Cup. This is their tournament debut and their qualification makes them the first Central Asian nation to reach a senior men’s World Cup. Cannavaro has kept a compact 3-4-2-1 structure that becomes a 5-4-1 without the ball, and the White Wolves will rely on organisation, unity and direct attacking. Khusanov is the headline name after his breakthrough at Manchester City, while captain Shomurodov is the country’s all-time leading goalscorer and Fayzullaev gives them creativity in wide areas. The question is whether they can sustain the required tempo against stronger opponents. Uzbekistan are expected to finish bottom, but they are organised enough to make DR Congo work very hard in what could be a decisive final group match.
- Confederation: AFC
- Best World Cup: Tournament debut
- World Cup qualifications: One (2026)
- Overall World Cup record: Tournament debut
- How they qualified: Uzbekistan qualified through AFC qualifying after finishing narrowly behind Iran in the second and third rounds.
- Predicted lineup: Nematov; Khusanov, Ashurmatov, Eshmurodov; Alijonov, Shukurov, Rakhmonaliev, Nasrullaev; Fayzullaev, Masharipov; Shomurodov.
- Squad: Goalkeepers: Utkir Yusupov, Botirali Ergashev, Abduvokhid Nematov.
Defenders: Avazbek Ulmasaliev, Jakhongir Urozov, Rustamjon Ashurmatov, Umarbek Eshmurodov, Abdukodir Khusanov, Abdulla Abdullaev, Farrukh Sayfiev, Khojiakbar Alijonov, Sherzod Nasrullaev, Behruz Karimov.
Midfielders: Sherzod Esanov, Umarali Rakhmonaliev, Akmal Mozgovoy, Otabek Shukurov, Jamshid Iskanderov, Azizjon Ganiev, Abbosbek Fayzullaev, Jaloliddin Masharipov, Dostonbek Khamdamov, Oston Urunov.
Forwards: Azizbek Amonov, Igor Sergeev, Eldor Shomurodov.
Group K teams, match-ups and betting preview
Teams: Portugal, Colombia, DR Congo, Uzbekistan
World Cup Group K Schedule
| Game | Date | Time (ET) | Arena |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portugal vs DR Congo | June 17, 2026 | 1pm | NRG Stadium |
| Uzbekistan vs Colombia | June 17, 2026 | 10pm | Estadio Azteca |
| Portugal vs Uzbekistan | June 23, 2026 | 1pm | AT&T Stadium |
| Colombia vs DR Congo | June 23, 2026 | 10pm | Estadio Akron |
| Colombia vs Portugal | June 27, 2026 | 10pm | Hard Rock Stadium |
| Uzbekistan vs DR Congo | June 27, 2026 | 10pm | Mercedes-Benz Stadium |
🇵🇹 Portugal v 🇨🇩 DR Congo
(A major test of DR Congo’s defensive structure against Portugal’s attacking depth)
Portugal should dominate possession and territory, but this is an interesting opening test because DR Congo are built to defend deep and counter quickly. Dias and Inacio will need to stay switched on against Bakambu and Wissa running in behind, while Portugal’s midfield should have the technical edge through Vitinha, Neves and Bruno Fernandes. If Portugal score early, the match could open up quickly. If DR Congo can stay compact for the first hour, they have enough pace to make things uncomfortable. These two nations have never played in an international before.
🇺🇿 Uzbekistan v 🇨🇴 Colombia
(Colombia’s tournament return begins against World Cup debutants)
Another first time clash, Colombia will view this as a game they need to win if they are to challenge Portugal for top spot. Uzbekistan are organised and should sit in a compact 5-4-1 without the ball, but Colombia have the individual quality to break them down through Diaz, James Rodriguez and Arias. Khusanov’s battle with Colombia’s forwards will be one of the key match-ups, while Shomurodov gives Uzbekistan a genuine outlet. Colombia should have too much attacking polish, but Cannavaro’s side will not be easy to pull apart.
🇵🇹 Portugal v 🇺🇿 Uzbekistan
(Portugal’s control against Uzbekistan’s compact defensive block)
This could be a long afternoon for Uzbekistan if Portugal move the ball quickly. Cannavaro’s team are likely to defend in numbers and look for direct outlets through Shomurodov and Fayzullaev, but Portugal have too many ways to create chances. Mendes and Cancelo can stretch the pitch, Fernandes can attack the box from midfield, and Ronaldo remains a constant threat inside the area. Uzbekistan’s best chance is to keep the score tight and turn the game into a set-piece contest.
🇨🇴 Colombia v 🇨🇩 DR Congo
(Potentially the decisive match in the race for second place)
This may be the most important game in the group outside Portugal v Colombia. Colombia are favourites to finish second, but DR Congo have the athleticism and counter-attacking threat to make this very uncomfortable. Lerma and Rios will need to control midfield and stop Sadiki carrying the ball through pressure, while Diaz against Wan-Bissaka could be one of the best individual duels in Group K. If Colombia win, the top two may already be close to settled. If DR Congo take something, the group opens right up.
🇨🇴 Colombia v 🇵🇹 Portugal
(The likely Group K decider in Miami)
This is the glamour match of Group K and could decide who finishes first. Portugal have the deeper squad and more ways to hurt Colombia, but Lorenzo’s side are dangerous enough to test them if Diaz finds space in transition. James Rodriguez’s ability to slow the game down and pick passes between the lines will be important, while Portugal’s midfield control through Vitinha and Neves could determine the tempo. If both teams have already qualified, this may become a tactical battle for the cleaner knockout path.
🇺🇿 Uzbekistan v 🇨🇩 DR Congo
(A likely battle for third place and possible best third-placed qualification hopes)
This could be a huge match for both sides if the top two are already out of reach. DR Congo have more pace and power, while Uzbekistan may be the more structured side. Shomurodov’s movement against Mbemba and Tuanzebe will be vital, while Bakambu and Wissa could punish Uzbekistan if the White Wolves are forced to chase the game. The winner may still have a chance of advancing as one of the best third-placed teams, which should make this one of the more intense final-round fixtures.
World Cup Group K prediction & best bets
Portugal are clearly the best team in Group K and deserve to be 1.45 favourites to advance. Martinez has world-class options in every area of the pitch, and the blend of Ronaldo’s finishing, Fernandes’ creativity, Bernardo Silva’s control, Vitinha’s tempo and Dias’ defensive leadership makes Portugal one of the most complete teams in the tournament.
Colombia look the obvious team to follow them into the knockout rounds. Lorenzo’s side have been tested in CONMEBOL qualifying, pushed Argentina in the Copa America final and have enough balance to handle the physical threat of DR Congo and the organisation of Uzbekistan.
The most logical Group K order is Portugal first, Colombia second, DR Congo third and Uzbekistan fourth. DR Congo should have enough athleticism and tournament edge to finish above Uzbekistan, although Cannavaro’s side are organised enough to make that final match very tight.
Portugal to win Group K at 1.45
Portugal and Colombia both to finish in the top two with football betting sites.
