World Cup 2026 Group K preview: Prediction, teams, rankings, key fixture, star players

The 2026 World Cup gets underway successful a substance of days erstwhile Mexico look South Africa successful the opening fixture connected June 11, but the 4 teams successful Group K volition not play their archetypal crippled until astir a afloat week later.

Portugal, Congo DR, Uzbekistan and Colombia volition each beryllium vying for a spot successful the circular of 32 and determination should beryllium immoderate fascinating clashes betwixt each 4 nations.

Here, Sports Mole provides an in-depth preview for Group K of the 2026 World Cup, including predicted standings and each nation's cardinal player.

World Cup 2026 Group K: Portugal

FIFA ranking: 5

Portugal are the favourites to apical the radical and boast a squad afloat of superstars similar Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva.

However, Portugal person ne'er won the World Cup and they crashed retired successful the quarter-finals to Morocco 4 years agone successful Qatar, continuing a tally of disappointing results that saw them suffer successful the circular of 16 successful 2018 and get eliminated successful the radical signifier successful 2014.

Under manager Roberto Martinez, Portugal did triumph the 2025 UEFA Nations League and they lone suffered 1 decision successful qualifying to the Republic of Ireland.

Portugal prima player: Cristiano Ronaldo

At the property of 41, this volition surely beryllium Ronaldo's sixth and last World Cup and helium volition beryllium hopeless to assistance the trophy.

The legendary goalscorer is not the subordinate helium erstwhile was, but helium remains a potent finisher who has netted 25 goals successful his past 31 games for Portugal and should inactive beryllium cardinal to their chances of success.

World Cup 2026 Group K: Congo DR

FIFA ranking: 45

Congo are acceptable to marque lone their 2nd quality astatine a World Cup, having antecedently competed arsenic Zaire astatine the 1974 variation wherever they were eliminated successful the radical stage.

Manager Sebastien Desbre does person plentifulness of prime astatine his disposal, including Premier League players Yoane Wissa, Noah Sadiki and Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

Congo volition beryllium keen to enactment successful a much-improved show 52 years connected from their World Cup debut and the information that 8 third-place teams volition besides suffice for the knockouts is simply a large boost to their chances.

Congo DR prima player: Yoane Wissa

After netting 19 Premier League goals for Brentford successful the 2024-25 campaign, Wissa earned a big-money determination to Newcastle but helium struggled with a genu wounded and scored conscionable 1 league goal.

As a result, Wissa enters the World Cup with a constituent to beryllium and the guardant volition beryllium cardinal to Congo's chances of progressing.

World Cup 2026 Group K: Uzbekistan

FIFA ranking: 50

Uzbekistan are acceptable to marque their archetypal World Cup quality this year, having qualified aft finishing 2nd successful their radical down Iran.

Manager Fabio Cannavaro has picked up 5 wins from his 7 games successful complaint truthful acold and was a World Cup victor arsenic a player, captaining Italy to triumph successful 2006.

Uzbekistan are undoubtedly the underdogs successful this group, but willl beryllium hoping to origin immoderate upsets and find a mode to scope the knockouts.

Uzbekistan prima player: Abdukodir Khusanov

The Manchester City defender volition undoubtedly beryllium Uzbekistan's cardinal player, having impressed since making the determination to the Premier League successful 2025.

Khusanov is an aggressive, speedy and almighty centre-back and keeping things choky successful defence volition beryllium important to Uzbekistan's chances. 

World Cup 2026 Group K: Colombia

FIFA ranking: 13

Colombia are backmost astatine the World Cup aft amazingly failing to suffice for the 2022 tourney and they person a fig of prime players successful their squad.

Captain James Rodriguez, who was a breakout prima erstwhile Colombia reached the quarter-finals astatine the 2014 World Cup, is apt playing his past large tourney and volition beryllium keen to marque a large impact.

Manager Nestor Lorenzo has been successful complaint since 2022 and guided Colombia to the Copa America last successful 2024, wherever they were narrowly beaten 1-0 by Argentina successful extra-time.

Colombia prima player: Luis Diaz

Diaz enters the World Cup disconnected the backmost of an outstanding debut play astatine Bayern Munich, wherever helium netted 26 goals crossed each competitions.

It was his highest-scoring run to day and the erstwhile Liverpool winger volition beryllium looking to transportation that signifier into the World Cup.

World Cup 2026 Group K cardinal fixture: Colombia vs. Portugal

Colombia and Portugal are the 2 strongest sides connected insubstantial successful Group K and their clash should beryllium a fascinating fixture.

Although some sides could already person qualified by then, this crippled should enactment arsenic a existent litmus trial and springiness fans a existent thought of however acold each federation tin go.

You tin find a afloat database of World Cup 2026 fixtures here, arsenic good arsenic a database of the best World Cup betting sites to usage passim the tournament.

World Cup 2026 Group K prediction

Both Portugal and Colombia should commencement their tournaments with a triumph implicit Congo and Uzbekistan respectively.

Portugal and Colombia should besides triumph their 2nd radical matches, mounting up an absorbing last radical clash connected June 27.

It is Portugal who should person the borderline implicit Colombia owed to the other extent successful their squad, portion Congo should prime up a consolation triumph implicit Uzbekistan successful their past radical match.

Fancy casting your ain predictions for the World Cup? Check retired our interactive World Cup bracket instrumentality here.