World Cup Group K Preview: Well-Knowns vs. Unknowns
- Forrest Wimberly
- 3 hours ago
- 3 min read
Credit Major League Soccer
NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com
FIFA World Cup 2026 Group K Preview: Portugal, Columbia, DR Congo, and Uzbekistan
Group K at the FIFA World Cup 2026 will feature two well-known teams and two virtually unknown teams all battling to advance out of the group stage and reach the Round of 32. The top two teams advance automatically and there is a chance for the third-place team to also advance if they are one of the top eight, third-place finishers.
The group stage will play out in Mexico, Houston, Atlanta, and Miami from June 17 to June 27. As a result of the geography of the matches, the teams have selected base camp locations in the same regions. Portugal will be based in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, DR Congo will be based in Houston, Texas, Columbia will be based in Jalisco, Mexico, and Uzbekistan will be based in Atlanta, Georgia.
The soccer pundits all agree that Portugal and Columbia will advance out of the group stage while a third-place finisher advancing out of Group K isn’t such a sure thing. Portugal and Columbia meet on the final match day of the group stage and most would expect them to both be undefeated and already into the knockout stage when the ball rolls in Miami. DR Congo has an outside chance to advance if they can beat Uzbekistan on match day 3 after scoring some goals versus Columbia and Portugal in the first two games of the group stage.
The Group K winner advances to play in Kansas City in the Round of 32 to versus a third-place team from either Group D, E, I, J or L. The Group K runner up travels to Toronto to play the runner up from Group L. If there is a Group K third place team advancing, they play in Atlanta versus the winner of Group L.
Team Capsules:
Portugal: FIFA Ranking 5; Odds of winning the World Cup +850
Ninth World Cup appearance.
The Navigators are loaded with talent, and this will be the final World Cup for soccer legend CR7. Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha, and Bernado Silva are other household names in this star-studded roster. Portugal qualified for the World Cup by winning Group F in UEFA qualification.
DR Congo: FIFA Ranking 45; Odds of winning the World Cup 1000-1
Second World Cup appearance (competed as Zaire in 1974).
The Leopards will be led by captain Chancel Mbemba and will have stars Yoane Wissa and Cedric Bakambu also on their roster. DR Congo qualified for the World Cup via playoffs by winning a cross-continental playoff match over Jamaica.
Columbia: FIFA Ranking 13; Odds of winning the World Cup 40-1
Seventh World Cup appearance.
The Coffee Growers have legend James Rodriguez in his final World Cup as well as stars Luis Diaz and Jhon Cordoba representing La Tricolor. Columbia qualified for the World Cup by finishing third in the COMEBOL standings.
Uzbekistan: FIFA Ranking 50; Odds of winning the World Cup 1500-1
World Cup debut.
The White Wolves have emerging stars that are some newer names on the global soccer all-star lists. Abdukodir Khusanov, Abbosbek Fayzullaev, and Eldor Shomurodov are the players that could have a break-out moment on the global stage this summer. Qualified for the World Cup by finishing second in their third-round AFC group earning a World Cup automatic bid.
Group K schedule:
June 17 - 1 pm ET: Portugal vs.DR Congo | Houston, Texas. Prediction: Portugal 2-0 DR Congo
June 17 - 10 pm ET: Uzbekistan vs. Colombia | Mexico City, Mexico. Prediction: Columbia 2-0 Uzbekistan
June 23 - 1 pm ET: Portugal vs. Uzbekistan | Houston, Texas. Prediction : Portugal 3-1 Uzbekistan
June 23 - 10 pm ET: Colombia vs. DR Congo | Guadalajara, Jalisco. Prediction: Columbia 2-1 DR Congo
June 27 - 7:30 pm ET: Colombia vs. Portugal | Miami, Florida. Prediction: Columbia 1-1 Portugal
June 27 - 7:30 pm ET: DR Congo vs. Uzbekistan | Atlanta, Georgia. Prediction: DR Congo 2-1 Uzbekistan
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