World Cup 2026 Group K: Portugal · Uzbekistan · Colombia · DR Congo

Group K is the group that broke the pots and then kept getting harder. Portugal arrived as Pot-1 despite Cristiano Ronaldo's diminishing role, riding a 2024 Euro quarter-final and a squad full of premier-league and La Liga regulars. Colombia, as Pot-2, are top 15 in FIFA's ranking and have the attacking trio — Luis Díaz, Jhon Durán, James Rodríguez — capable of beating any side in the group. And then DR Congo arrived as Pot-3 despite ranking 50th — the Leopards are a 2024 AFCON semifinalist with a squad that has played its best football since 2010.

Uzbekistan complete the group as genuine first-timers. Their rise is one of the stories of the expanded format: a squad built around Abbosbek Fayzullayev's playmaking and a 4-4-2 shape that frustrated both Iran and Iraq in AFC qualifying. They will be outmatched on talent but not on game plan.

Group K is the one where nobody is safe. Portugal can finish third if Cristiano has a poor tournament. Colombia can finish first if Díaz catches fire. DR Congo can beat any of the other three on a given night. Uzbekistan can steal a set-piece goal and turn everything upside down. It is the group where tournament-opening tension lasts all three matchdays.