World Cup Group K Predictions & Betting Tips
Will Jackson 
Scott McGlynn
Group K is one of the more interesting draws in the tournament.
Portugal arrive as outright contenders following their 2025 Nations League final win over Spain, while Colombia bring a 28-match unbeaten run that included wins over Germany, Brazil and Spain.
Add Uzbekistan, at their first ever World Cup, and intercontinental playoff winner DR Congo, and you have a group with multiple credible top-three finishers.
Portugal start as favourites but Colombia's recent form makes this far less predictable than it looks. Cristiano Ronaldo's likely final World Cup adds another layer to the narrative.
The new format means three sides are likely to progress from this group, and there is genuine value across multiple markets.
Browse our free bets and offers for the World Cup before placing your bets on Group K.
Group K Teams & Form
Portugal
Roberto Martinez has unfinished tournament business after his Belgium years, and Portugal arrive in serious form. They beat Spain in the 2025 Nations League final, ending Spain's long unbeaten run and announcing themselves as genuine contenders.
The squad blends Cristiano Ronaldo's experience with Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, Rafael Leao and Joao Felix.
This is likely Ronaldo's final World Cup at age 41 and as ever in recent tournaments, one of the stories of the tournament will be just how much Portugal can afford to carry him.
Portugal have one of the deepest attacking units in the tournament and look likely to top this group.
Colombia
Nestor Lorenzo's Colombia have been one of the most impressive sides outside Europe over the past two years. They reached the 2024 Copa America final, losing only to Argentina, and went on a 28-match unbeaten run that included wins over Germany, Brazil and Spain. James Rodriguez has been rejuvenated and Luis Diaz remains world-class.
Colombia are the genuine dark horse of this group and arguably one of the value plays in the wider tournament. The Portugal head-to-head on 27 June could decide top spot.
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan are at their first ever World Cup, qualifying from AFC. Fabio Cannavaro has been linked to managing the side after spells in Italy and elsewhere.
The squad is mostly built around domestic-based players, with Manchester City's Abdukodir Khusanov the standout name. Uzbekistan are the weakest side on paper and will struggle.
DR Congo
DR Congo beat Jamaica 1-0 in the FIFA intercontinental playoff final on 31 March, with Burnley defender Axel Tuanzebe scoring the only goal in extra time. They are at their first World Cup in 52 years.
Sebastien Desabre's side reached the AFCON 2023 semi-finals and have a competitive squad with several European-based players. They will not roll over.
Group K Predictions
This is genuinely one of the most open groups in the tournament at the top. Portugal should win it but Colombia have the credentials to push hard. Uzbekistan and DR Congo are the more vulnerable sides, with both likely to compete for third place - and the eight best third-placed sides progress to the Round of 32.
Portugal should top the group, Colombia should come second, and DR Congo should take third on the back of their playoff run and AFCON form. Uzbekistan are the most likely to finish bottom and to fail to progress.
The Colombia second-place market is one of the more attractive value plays on the wider group stage board.
Group K Betting Tips
Find more analysis on every fixture in our World Cup 2026 tips hub as the tournament approaches, but here are three top prices and pre-tournament tips to use with our free bet offers.
Tip 1: Portugal to Win Group K
Portugal have the squad depth and the recent form to top this group comfortably, but there remain questions over the manager at the very highest level. The Nations League win over Spain in 2025 was the kind of statement performance that puts a side firmly in the top tier.
The Colombia head-to-head will be the dangerous fixture but Portugal should have enough and the group games are where they should thrive, but the Ronaldo question will rear its head against better sides.
This is a higher-confidence pick than the price suggests. Use it as the anchor leg in a bet builder.
Tip 2: Colombia to Qualify From Group K
Colombia's recent form record is genuinely impressive - wins over Germany, Brazil and Spain inside two years, plus a Copa America final appearance. They have the squad to beat Uzbekistan and DR Congo and to take points off Portugal in the head-to-head.
The qualification price on Colombia offers more value than the group winner price, given the strength of Portugal at the top. This is one of the higher-confidence qualification picks across the tournament.
Tip 3: Bet Builder - Portugal to Win Group K & Colombia to Qualify
This bet builder backs the two strongest sides in the group to deliver on their billing. Portugal topping the group and Colombia qualifying in the top three is the cleanest reading of Group K, and combining them produces a more attractive return than backing either as a single.
The legs do not contradict each other - Portugal winning the group still allows Colombia to comfortably take second. If you want to add a third leg, "Uzbekistan to finish bottom" is a sensible accumulator addition.
Market Outlook
Portugal are favourites to win Group K but Colombia are priced closer than most second favourites in the wider tournament given their recent form.
Uzbekistan and DR Congo are mid-market and outsider respectively in the group winner market. Both Portugal and Colombia are short prices to qualify in the top three.
You can compare prices for this group across all major betting sites on our World Cup 2026 betting odds page.
Odds are subject to change. 18+ only. Please bet responsibly. BeGambleAware.org.
Group K fixtures
- Portugal vs DR Congo - 17 June, 18:00 BST
- Uzbekistan vs Colombia - 18 June, 03:00 BST
- Portugal vs Uzbekistan - 23 June, 18:00 BST
- Colombia vs DR Congo - 24 June, 03:00 BST
- Colombia vs Portugal - 27 June, 22:00 BST
- DR Congo vs Uzbekistan - 27 June, 22:00 BST
