{"id":15530,"date":"2026-06-13T03:25:24","date_gmt":"2026-06-12T21:55:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/?p=15530"},"modified":"2026-06-13T03:25:24","modified_gmt":"2026-06-12T21:55:24","slug":"fifa-world-cup-2026-group-k-preview-portugal-colombia-dr-congo-and-uzbekistan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-group-k-preview-portugal-colombia-dr-congo-and-uzbekistan\/","title":{"rendered":"FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122 Group K Preview: Portugal, Colombia, DR Congo, and Uzbekistan"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"bsf_rt_marker\"><\/div><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/sports\/football\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\/0-6-4z5974253\/0-2-5z5974716\/teams\/portugal\/portugal-squad\">Portugal<\/a> want the one trophy Cristiano Ronaldo has never held. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/sports\/football\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\/0-6-4z5974253\/0-2-5z5974716\/teams\/colombia\/colombia-squad\">Colombia<\/a> want to announce themselves as South America&#8217;s second-best team at this World Cup. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/sports\/football\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\/0-6-4z5974253\/0-2-5z5974716\/teams\/congo-dr\/congo-dr-squad\">DR Congo<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/sports\/football\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\/0-6-4z5974253\/0-2-5z5974716\/teams\/uzbekistan\/uzbekistan-squad\">Uzbekistan<\/a> want third place \u2014 and in the FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122, third place is worth fighting for.<\/span><\/p><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_86 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-black ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Page Contents:<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #282fff;color:#282fff\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #282fff;color:#282fff\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-group-k-preview-portugal-colombia-dr-congo-and-uzbekistan\/#Portugal_one_last_chance_for_Ronaldo\" >Portugal: one last chance for Ronaldo<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-group-k-preview-portugal-colombia-dr-congo-and-uzbekistan\/#Colombia_Luis_Diaz_and_the_case_for_South_Americas_second_team\" >Colombia: Luis D\u00edaz and the case for South America&#8217;s second team<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-group-k-preview-portugal-colombia-dr-congo-and-uzbekistan\/#DR_Congo_50_years_in_waiting\" >DR Congo: 50 years in waiting<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-group-k-preview-portugal-colombia-dr-congo-and-uzbekistan\/#Uzbekistan_Central_Asias_quiet_achievers\" >Uzbekistan: Central Asia&#8217;s quiet achievers<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-group-k-preview-portugal-colombia-dr-congo-and-uzbekistan\/#Group_K_fixtures_all_times_IST\" >Group K fixtures (all times IST)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-group-k-preview-portugal-colombia-dr-congo-and-uzbekistan\/#The_verdict\" >The verdict<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here is what makes this group stage different from any previous World Cup: eight of the twelve third-place finishers across all groups will advance to the round of 32. That means DR Congo and Uzbekistan are not simply making up numbers. They are competing for a knockout-stage berth that is genuinely attainable. One good result \u2014 a win where a draw was expected, a point stolen from Colombia or Portugal \u2014 could be enough.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Group K opens on June 17 with Portugal vs DR Congo and Uzbekistan vs Colombia. Four nations, four very different stories, and a format that keeps everyone in the conversation until the very end.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Watch Portugal, Colombia, DR Congo, and Uzbekistan live on ZEE5 \u2014 the official streaming home for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/sports\/football\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\">FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122<\/a> in India. Explore the latest<a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/myaccount\/subscription?plan-ref=0-11-7467&amp;asset-ref=0-6-4z5914493&amp;visibility=SELECTED&amp;context=FIFA\"> ZEE5 FIFA subscription<\/a> plans and stream every Group K match live.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Portugal_one_last_chance_for_Ronaldo\"><\/span><b>Portugal: one last chance for Ronaldo<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The World Cup is the only major trophy missing from Cristiano Ronaldo&#8217;s career. League titles, Champions League, a European Championship, every individual scoring record imaginable \u2014 he has all of it. Except this.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At 41, this is his last realistic opportunity. But Portugal are not relying on sentiment \u2014 they have one of the deepest squads in the tournament. Bruno Fernandes controls tempo and creates chances that others would not even attempt. Rafael Le\u00e3o brings the kind of pace and directness on the left flank that defenders dread in wide-open space. Bernardo Silva is the heartbeat of their midfield press. R\u00faben Dias leads a defence that is difficult to dismantle. Portugal are genuine contenders to win the World Cup outright in 2026, not just to top Group K. The question is not whether they qualify \u2014 it is how far they go from here.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Colombia_Luis_Diaz_and_the_case_for_South_Americas_second_team\"><\/span><b>Colombia: Luis D\u00edaz and the case for South America&#8217;s second team<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Colombia reached the Copa Am\u00e9rica 2024 final and played some of the most attractive football of any South American side in recent memory. They are not here to participate \u2014 they are here to play till the very end of the tournament.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Luis D\u00edaz is their most dangerous weapon. Direct, two-footed, and relentless over 90 minutes, he gives Colombia a threat on the left that can hurt any defence. James Rodr\u00edguez adds a different dimension \u2014 slower but more creative, with a passing range and set-piece quality that changes the geometry of a match entirely. Colombia&#8217;s opening fixture against Uzbekistan on June 18 is the one they are expected to win comfortably. Their final group match against Portugal on June 28 is where the group could genuinely be decided.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"DR_Congo_50_years_in_waiting\"><\/span><b>DR Congo: 50 years in waiting<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">DR Congo are one of the great football nations Africa has never fully exported to the global stage. The talent has always been there \u2014 the infrastructure and consistency have not. It returns to the football World Cup after 52 years.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This squad has real quality. Yoane Wissa brings Premier League sharpness in attack. The midfield is energetic and capable of disrupting sides who expect the ball back quickly. Against Portugal in the opener, they face the hardest possible start. But their match against Uzbekistan on June 24 is the one that decides their fate. Win that, and a third-place berth that leads to the round of 32 is within reach. The expanded format of the FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122 was built for stories like DR Congo. They have every reason to believe.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Uzbekistan_Central_Asias_quiet_achievers\"><\/span><b>Uzbekistan: Central Asia&#8217;s quiet achievers<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Uzbekistan have been quietly improving their football for a decade. Their AFC qualification campaign showed a side that is organised, hard to break down, and capable of grinding out results against teams with far greater individual quality. They are not here by chance.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Against Portugal and Colombia, the gap in class is significant. But third place remains achievable \u2014 and on June 28, against DR Congo, they have a direct contest to determine who earns that coveted third-place slot. A point from their opening match against Colombia would be an enormous boost. It would keep them level with DR Congo going into the final matchday and make that last game a genuine final.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Group_K_fixtures_all_times_IST\"><\/span><b>Group K fixtures (all times IST)<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Match<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Fixture<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Date (IST)<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Kick-off (IST)<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Venue<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Portugal vs DR Congo<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jun 17<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">10:30 PM<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">NRG Stadium, Houston<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Uzbekistan vs Colombia<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jun 18<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">7:30 AM<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Estadio Azteca, Mexico City<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Portugal vs Uzbekistan<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jun 23<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">10:30 PM<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">NRG Stadium, Houston<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Colombia vs DR Congo<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jun 24<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">7:30 AM<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Estadio Akron, Guadalajara<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Colombia vs Portugal<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jun 28<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5:00 AM<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hard Rock Stadium, Miami<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Uzbekistan vs DR Congo<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jun 28<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5:00 AM<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_verdict\"><\/span><b>The verdict<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Portugal should most likely win this group. Their squad is too complete, too experienced in big tournaments, and too well-coached to be troubled by DR Congo or Uzbekistan. Colombia are second \u2014 Luis D\u00edaz and the depth of their attacking options give them the edge. Then comes the genuinely interesting part. DR Congo and Uzbekistan will meet on June 28 knowing exactly what they need. Both sides are capable of picking up points against each other and potentially against Colombia. Eight of twelve third-place teams advance. Be good enough in three matches, and finishing third in Group K still gets you into the round of 32. That is the promise of this World Cup \u2014 and DR Congo and Uzbekistan will run towards it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Watch the FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122 live in India on ZEE5. Choose the \u20b9799 quarterly plan or the \u20b91,699 annual plan to stream every Group K match live.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><b><i>Disclaimer:<\/i><\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Subscription pack prices are subject to change from time to time. Please visit the subscription page for the most up-to-date pricing information.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Portugal want the one trophy Cristiano Ronaldo has never held. Colombia want to announce themselves as South America&#8217;s second-best team at this World Cup. DR Congo and Uzbekistan want third place \u2014 and in the FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122, third place is worth fighting for. Here is what makes this group stage different from any [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":15163,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3019],"tags":[3031,3103],"class_list":["post-15530","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fifa-world-cup-2026","tag-fifa-world-cup-2026","tag-group-k"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1132x400.png","author_info":{"display_name":"Sourav K","author_link":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/author\/sourav-k\/"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122 Group K Preview: Portugal, Colombia, DR Congo, and Uzbekistan - ZEE5 Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Portugal chase glory, Colombia aim high, while DR Congo and Uzbekistan fight for FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122 knockout spots\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-group-k-preview-portugal-colombia-dr-congo-and-uzbekistan\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122 Group K Preview: Portugal, Colombia, DR Congo, and Uzbekistan - 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