Group K of the 2026 FIFA World Cup took place from June 17 to 27, 2026. The group consisted of Portugal, DR Congo, Uzbekistan, and Colombia.
Colombia secured their advancement to the round of 32. after two group game wins, and would top the group after earning a draw against Portugal. Portugal also advanced as group runners-up, after a crucial victory against Uzbekistan.
Although DR Congo failed to win their first two matches, a victory over Uzbekistan allowed them to finish third in the group and advance as one of the best third-place teams. Uzbekistan finished fourth and were eliminated, losing all three of their group games.
Teams Draw position Team Pot Confederation Method ofqualification Date ofqualification Finalsappearance Lastappearance Previous bestperformance FIFA Rankings November 2025 June 2026 K1 1 UEFA UEFA Group F winner November 16, 2025 9th 2022 Third place (1966) 6 5 K2 4 CAF Inter-confederation playoff Path 1 winner March 31, 2026 2nd 1974 Group stage (1974) 56 46 K3 3 AFC AFC third round Group A runner-up June 5, 2025 1st — — 50 50 K4 2 CONMEBOL CONMEBOL round robin third place September 4, 2025 7th 2018 Quarterfinals (2014) 13 13 Notes
Standings
In the round of 32: The winner of Group K, Colombia, advanced to play the third-place team of Group L, Ghana. The runner-up of Group K, Portugal, advanced to play the runner-up of Group L, Croatia. The third-place team of Group K, DR Congo, advanced to play the winner of Group L, England, as one of the eight best third-place teams from the group stage.
Matches All times listed are local.
Portugal vs DR Congo The two teams had never met before.
This match marked the country's first time competing under the name DR Congo, having previously appeared as Zaire in 1974. It was also the first World Cup match to be played within the vicinity of a tropical cyclone (Tropical Storm Arthur), but it was unaffected.
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo matched Argentina's Lionel Messi by playing in a sixth World Cup finals, and also become the oldest outfield player to start a World Cup match at the age of 41 years and 132 days.
Portugal went in front in the 6th minute when João Neves headed to the right corner after a cross from the left by Pedro Neto. In time added on in the first half, it was 1–1 when Yoane Wissa headed to the left of the net from six yards out after a cross from the right by Arthur Masuaku, the goal was DR Congo's first-ever World Cup final's goal.
GK 1 Diogo CostaRB 20João CanceloCB 4 Tomás Araújo CB 13Renato VeigaLB 25Nuno Mendes CM 15João NevesCM 23Vitinha RW 10Bernardo Silva AM 8 Bruno FernandesLW 18Pedro Neto CF 7 Cristiano Ronaldo (c)Substitutions:FW 26Francisco Conceição FW 17Rafael Leão DF 2 Nélson Semedo FW 9 Gonçalo Ramos Manager: Roberto Martínez GK 1 Lionel MpasiCB 22Chancel Mbemba (c) CB 4 Axel TuanzebeCB 3 Steve KapuadiRWB2 Aaron Wan-Bissaka LWB26Arthur Masuaku CM 6 Ngal'ayel Mukau CM 8 Samuel MoutoussamyCM 25Edo Kayembe CF 17Cédric Bakambu CF 20Yoane WissaSubstitutions:MF 14Noah Sadiki MF 18Charles Pickel DF 12Joris Kayembe DF 24Gédéon Kalulu FW 23Simon Banza Manager: Sébastien Desabre
Man of the Match: João Neves (Portugal)
Assistant referees: Taleb Al-Marri (Qatar) Saud Al-Maqaleh (Qatar) Fourth official: Abongile Tom (South Africa) Reserve assistant referee: Zakhele Siwela (South Africa) Video assistant referee: Khamis Al-Marri (Qatar) Assistant video assistant referee: Juan Soto (Venezuela) Support video assistant referee: Hernán Mastrángelo (Argentina)
Uzbekistan vs Colombia The two teams had never met before. It was the first time since May 12, 2002 that Colombia returned to the pitch of the Azteca having lost a friendly match there to Mexico 2–1. The fixture marked Uzbekistan's debut at the FIFA World Cup.
In the 40th minute, Daniel Muñoz put Colombia in front when he scored with a volley from six yards out, connecting with a pass over the top from Luis Díaz. Abbosbek Fayzullaev made it 1–1 in the 60th minute when he headed into an empty net from close range after Colombian goalkeeper had parried a shot from Eldor Shomurodov on the right. The goal was Uzbekistan's first-ever goal at a World Cup finals. Colombia went back in front five minutes later when Luis Díaz scored with a low finish to the right corner. In the 9th minute of added time, substitute Jaminton Campaz made it 3–1 when he headed to the left corner of the net from six yards out after a cross from Cucho Hernández on the right.
Abdukodir Khusanov received a yellow card for a tackle on Luis Díaz that caused him to collide with a pitch-side camera operator. The match was briefly paused while medical staff attended to the cameraman, who was taken to the hospital but escaped serious injury. Following the match, Khusanov sent a signed match jersey with a written apology to the operator.
GK 1 Utkir YusupovCB 2 Abdukodir Khusanov CB 18Abdulla AbdullaevCB 5 Rustam Ashurmatov RM 24Bekhruz KarimovCM 7 Otabek ShukurovCM 6 Akmal MozgovoyLM 13Sherzod Nasrullaev RF 22Abbosbek Fayzullaev CF 14Eldor Shomurodov (c) LF 11Oston Urunov Substitutions:DF 4Farrukh Sayfiev MF 17Dostonbek Khamdamov DF 26Jakhongir Urozov FW 20Azizbek Amonov FW 21Igor Sergeev Manager: Fabio Cannavaro GK 12Camilo VargasRB 2 Daniel MuñozCB 23Davinson SánchezCB 3 Jhon LucumíLB 17Johan Mojica DM 16Jefferson LermaCM 14Gustavo Puerta CM 11Jhon Arias RF 10James Rodríguez (c) CF 25Luis Suárez LF 7 Luis Díaz Substitutions:MF 21Jaminton Campaz FW 19Cucho Hernández MF 6Richard Ríos FW 26Andrés Gómez MF 5Kevin Castaño Manager: Néstor Lorenzo
Man of the Match: Luis Díaz (Colombia)
Assistant referees: Gary Beswick (England) Adam Nunn (England) Fourth official: Juan Gabriel Calderón (Costa Rica) Reserve assistant referee: Juan Carlos Mora (Costa Rica) Video assistant referee: Ivan Bebek (Croatia) Assistant video assistant referee: Jarred Gillett (England) Support video assistant referee: Carlos del Cerro Grande (Spain)
Portugal vs Uzbekistan The two teams had never met before.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice in the first half, becoming the first player to score in six FIFA World Cup tournaments.
This fixture was the second-largest defeat suffered by an Asian team during the tournament's group stage, following Qatar's 6–0 loss to Canada and tied with Iraq's 5–0 loss against Senegal 3 days later.
GK 1 Diogo CostaRB 20João Cancelo CB 3 Rúben DiasCB 13Renato Veiga LB 25Nuno MendesCM 23Vitinha CM 15João Neves RW 18Pedro Neto AM 8 Bruno FernandesLW 11João Félix CF 7 Cristiano Ronaldo (c)Substitutions:DF 2 Nélson Semedo FW 26Francisco Conceição FW 16Francisco Trincão MF 10Bernardo Silva FW 17Rafael Leão Manager: Roberto Martínez GK 12Abduvohid NematovCB 2 Abdukodir KhusanovCB 18Abdulla AbdullaevCB 5 Rustam AshurmatovRM 24Bekhruz Karimov CM 9 Odiljon Hamrobekov CM 7 Otabek Shukurov LM 13Sherzod Nasrullaev RF 19Azizjon GanievCF 14Eldor Shomurodov (c)LF 22Abbosbek Fayzullaev Substitutions:DF 3 Khojiakbar Alijonov MF 6 Akmal Mozgovoy FW 21Igor Sergeev FW 10Ruslanbek Jiyanov MF 23Sherzod Esanov Manager: Fabio Cannavaro
Man of the Match: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
Assistant referees: Zakaria Brinsi (Morocco) Mostafa Akarkad (Morocco) Fourth official: Abongile Tom (South Africa) Reserve assistant referee: Zakhele Siwela (South Africa) Video assistant referee: Leodán González (Uruguay) Assistant video assistant referee: (Morocco) Support video assistant referee: Hernán Mastrángelo (Argentina)
Colombia vs DR Congo The two teams had never met before.
In the 76th minute, Daniel Muñoz scored the only goal of the game with a low finish from the right that was deflected and went in at the near post.
GK 12Camilo VargasRB 2 Daniel MuñozCB 23Davinson SánchezCB 3 Jhon Lucumí LB 17Johan MojicaDM 16Jefferson Lerma CM 14Gustavo PuertaCM 11Jhon Arias RF 10James Rodríguez (c) CF 25Luis Suárez LF 7 Luis DíazSubstitutions:MF 20Juan Fernando Quintero FW 9 Jhon Córdoba MF 6 Richard Ríos Manager: Néstor Lorenzo GK 1 Lionel MpasiCB 22Chancel Mbemba (c)CB 4 Axel TuanzebeCB 3 Steve KapuadiRWB2 Aaron Wan-BissakaLWB26Arthur Masuaku CM 6 Ngal'ayel Mukau CM 8 Samuel Moutoussamy CM 25Edo Kayembe CF 17Cédric Bakambu CF 20Yoane WissaSubstitutions:MF 14Noah Sadiki FW 23Simon Banza DF 12Joris Kayembe MF 18Charles Pickel MF 7 Nathanaël Mbuku Manager: Sébastien Desabre
Man of the Match:
Daniel Muñoz (Colombia)
Assistant referees: Daniele Bindoni (Italy) Alberto Tegoni (Italy) Fourth official: Juan Gabriel Calderón (Costa Rica) Reserve assistant referee: Juan Carlos Mora (Costa Rica) Video assistant referee: Marco Di Bello (Italy) Assistant video assistant referee: Mohammed Obaid Khadim (United Arab Emirates) Support video assistant referee: Carlos del Cerro Grande (Spain)
Colombia vs Portugal The two teams had never met before.
Both teams struggled to make goals from either side, with Cristiano Ronaldo missing his shots throughout. In the end, both teams finished with a 0–0 draw, with Diogo Costa earning Man of the Match for his consistent performance.
GK 12Camilo VargasRB 4 Santiago Arias CB 23Davinson SánchezCB 3 Jhon LucumíLB 22Deiver MachadoDM 16Jefferson Lerma CM 14Gustavo Puerta CM 11Jhon Arias RF 10James Rodríguez (c) CF 9 Jhon Córdoba LF 7 Luis DíazSubstitutions:FW 25Luis Suárez MF 6 Richard Ríos MF 20Juan Fernando Quintero MF 5 Kevin Castaño DF 2 Daniel Muñoz Manager: Néstor Lorenzo GK 1 Diogo CostaRB 20João Cancelo CB 3 Rúben DiasCB 13Renato VeigaLB 25Nuno Mendes CM 21Rúben Neves CM 23Vitinha RW 18Pedro NetoAM 8 Bruno FernandesLW 11João Félix CF 7 Cristiano Ronaldo (c)Substitutions:MF 15João Neves DF 5 Diogo Dalot FW 17Rafael Leão MF 24Samú Costa MF 6 Matheus Nunes Manager: Roberto Martínez
Man of the Match: Diogo Costa (Portugal)
Assistant referees: George Lakrindis (Australia) James Lindsay (Australia) Fourth official: Saíd Martínez (Honduras) Reserve assistant referee: Walter López (Honduras) Video assistant referee: Jérôme Brisard (France) Assistant video assistant referee: Hernán Mastrángelo (Argentina) Support video assistant referee: Mahmoud Ashour (Egypt)
DR Congo vs Uzbekistan
The two teams had never met before.
Uzbekistan scored an early lead against the determined DR Congo team by Eldor Shomurodov in the first half, though a costly mistake in the second half resulted in Yoane Wissa to score an equalizer. Additional goals by Fiston Mayele and Yoane Wissa secured DR Congo's spot in the knockout phase for the first time ever.
For Uzbekistan, three straight defeats meant they were eliminated from the group stage alongside fellow debutant Jordan, who also went winless with three straight defeats in their group.
GK 1 Lionel MpasiRB 2 Aaron Wan-BissakaCB 22Chancel Mbemba (c)CB 4 Axel TuanzebeLB 26Arthur Masuaku RM 9 Brian Cipenga CM 8 Samuel Moutoussamy CM 14Noah Sadiki LM 7 Nathanaël Mbuku CF 17Cédric Bakambu CF 20Yoane WissaSubstitutions:FW 19Fiston Mayele FW 13Meschak Elia MF 10Théo Bongonda MF 6 Ngal'ayel Mukau DF 12Joris Kayembe Manager: Sébastien Desabre GK 12Abduvohid NematovCB 2 Abdukodir Khusanov CB 5 Rustam AshurmatovCB 26Jakhongir Urozov RM 3 Khojiakbar AlijonovCM 7 Otabek Shukurov CM 6 Akmal Mozgovoy LM 13Sherzod Nasrullaev RF 22Abbosbek Fayzullaev CF 14Eldor Shomurodov (c)LF 17Dostonbek Khamdamov Substitutions:MF 9 Odiljon Hamrobekov MF 19Azizjon Ganiev MF 11Oston Urunov MF 8 Jamshid Iskanderov FW 21Igor Sergeev Manager: Fabio Cannavaro
Man of the Match: Yoane Wissa (DR Congo)
Assistant referees: (Germany) (Germany) Fourth official: Alejandro Hernández Hernández (Spain) Reserve assistant referee: (Spain) Video assistant referee: Bastian Dankert (Germany) Assistant video assistant referee: Dennis Higler (Netherlands) Support video assistant referee: Jarred Gillett (England)
Discipline