Group K preview
Colombia: Having made the final of the last Copa America in 2024 there is optimism heading into this World Cup for the Colombians, they have two players in the attack that are coming off brilliant seasons for their clubs in Luis Diaz and Luis Suarez along with James Rodriguez who had a renaissance in 2024 at the Copa America so there is a punch in this Colombia team at this World Cup. They’ll have players you’ll recognise throughout the team like Daniel Munoz, Davinson Sanchez, Richard Rios, Jefferson Lerma etc who will make up one of the strongest South American teams in the competition, I would fully expect them to make it out of this group and go quite far in the competition given the strength of their squad overall. I think Colombia are going under the radar for many heading into this World Cup, could they pose a threat to the favourites for the tournament? Why not?
Player to watch: Jhon Arias
DR Congo: The DR Congo made the Round of 16 in the AFCON back in January losing 1-0 to Algeria but it was without many of their best players that came back to help them qualify for the tournament against Jamaica in the play-offs a few months ago bringing the DR Congo back to the World Cup for he first time in 52 years, they have may players you’ll know like Yoane Wissa, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Axel Tuanzebe, Noah Sadiki etc who all played in the Premier League last season. It’s going to be tough in a group with Colombia and Portugal but they can definitely qualify to the Round of 32 with a win against Uzbekistan which they are well capable off, anything past the Round of 32 would be a shock considering how inexperienced this team is in major tournaments but you never know.
Player to watch: Noah Sadiki
Portugal: The reigning Nations League champions head into this tournament yet again as one of the favourites and you can see why with the star quality littered throughout the squad, headlined by a midfield of Fernandes-Vitinha-Neves which is arguably the best midfield in the entire tournament so there is high expectation of this Portugal side. You can’t mention Portugal without bringing up Cristiano Ronaldo who is most likely playing in his last World Cup at 41 years old and you do wonder if he can still lead the line for Portugal at a major tournament, one positive to look at would be the Nations League final last year where Portugal beat Spain on penalties with Ronaldo scoring Portugal’s second so he clearly can still offer a lot to this Portugal side who don’t really have another number 9. The last Euros was a disaster for Portugal despite making the quarter-finals going out to France on penalties and squeezing past Slovenia on penalties the round before so they’ll be keen to have a strong tournament which the people of Portugal expect with such a strong squad. Is this Ronaldo’s time in the World Cup? I kind of hope so.
Player to watch: Rafael Leao
Uzbekistan: Another team making their debut in this World Cup are Uzbekistan managed by World Cup winning captain Fabio Cannavaro who was thrust in charge in October 2025 after their former manager Timur Kapadze guided the team to qualification and was booted out to be replaced by the Balon D’Or winner, it’s definitely a gamble and one that could blow up in their faces if they don’t qualify from this group which will be tough with powerhouses like Colombia and Portugal but that 3rd place finish could still see them make the Round of 32 which I think would be seen as a success for Uzbekistan. They don’t have many players you’ll recognise other than Abdukodir Khusanov and Eldor Shumurodov who provide the team with much needed quality at the back and up front which they’ll need to get out of this group, it’s between them and DR Congo for that 3rd place spot in my opinion.
Overall prediction for the group:
1.Portugal
2.Colombia
3.DR Congo
4.Uzbekistan