2026 World Cup Group K Betting Guide

All eyes will be on Cristiano Ronaldo at his last ever World Cup and fans will be able to catch a first glimpse of Al Nassr’s forward in Houston as Portugal meet DR Congo. Roberto Martinez’s side will stay put for round two when facing Uzbekistan, before travelling to Miami to round off Group K in Miami against Colombia.

The South Americans curtain raiser comes against Uzbekistan in Mexico City before facing DR Congo in Zapopan. There’s plenty of travelling involved for the Colombians and their supporters.

DR Congo and Uzbekistan’s group stage will come to a close in Atlanta at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, who will both be hoping to still have a chance of qualifying after facing off with the two favourites to progress.

Nathan Joyes will be providing betting tips on all World Cup betting markets throughout the tournament and he talks us through Group K and what’s likely to play out after the four nations complete their matches.

Group K Team analysis

Portugal

Portugal are warm favourites to come out on top in Group K, with only Colombia to really worry about. However, after only edging past Ireland - who managed to beat Portugal 2-0 - by three points, it might not be a straightforward formality for Roberto Martinez’s side.

With his stubbornness when it comes to team selection, Cristiano Ronaldo continues to lead the line, while some believe that hinders their attack due to his lack of mobility.

Still, the 41-year-old was their top goalscorer during the qualifiers (five) and it’ll be difficult for Martinez to drop him at this stage. Fortunately for Ronaldo, there’s plenty of other match winners within their ranks.

Bruno Fernandes, Joao Neves and Joao Cancelo all contributed with goals and assists as Portugal secured their World Cup spot and the trio will play key roles in the summer.

Portugal are clearly a nation capable of troubling others, but will Ronaldo’s inclusion help or hinder his team? Time will tell.

Colombia

If Portugal falls short of their expectations, you can bet that Colombia will be waiting in the wings to steal first place. The South American representatives in Group K finished 3rd in qualifying, ahead of Uruguay, Brazil and Paraguay - all joining Los Cafeteros at the World Cup.

Only Argentina outscored Colombia, yet none of the other five set to join Nestor Lorenzo’s side in the US conceded more than his side. Their defensive issues came to light when both Croatia and France beat them during the March international break.
But for Colombia, it’s all about who’s going to put the ball in the back of the net for them - and Lorenzo has options. James Rodriguez will once again be defrosted to do what he does best, while Luis Diaz, Jhon Arias, Jhon Cordoba and Luis Suarez will all pose a threat in front of goal.

DR Congo

DR Congo secured their World Cup place at the 11th hour after beating Jamaica in the Intercontinental play-off final. Not much is expected from teams sneaking the last few spots but that doesn’t mean we should write off DR Congo just yet.

At the AFCON, DR Congo fell short in the round of 16 but took Algeria - one of the favourites - all the way to extra-time before losing 1-0. They also managed to hold Senegal to a 1-1 draw in their group stage - the only goal they conceded within 90 minutes.

Their back five, which includes West Ham’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Burnley’s Axel Tuanzebe, may not have luxury names but won’t be the easiest to break down. The Africans will know that goal difference may well be key for progression - and they certainly know how to grind out results.

Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan have qualified for the first time in their history but they more than deserve their spot at the World Cup. They will be led by former Italian centre-back Fabio Cannavaro who’s had stints in China, Middle East, Italy and Croatia before taking this role.

Only Iran finished ahead of Uzbekistan during their Asian World Cup qualifiers, who picked up 21 points from 10 matches, scoring 14 and more impressively, conceding just seven. And with Cannavaro, a top defender in his day, drafted in, Uzbekistan may be more difficult to break down than other nations in this group will expect.

With Man City’s Abdukodir Khusanov in the heart of the defence, Cannavaro has someone who he can trust. Roma’s Eldor Shomurodov has been on fire in Turkey, scoring 20 league goals at Basaksehir.

Uzbekistan won’t be backed by many at the 2026 World Cup, but they certainly won’t be pumped in all three matches, and Cannavaro will make his team hard to beat but dangerous on the counter.

Group K Betting tips

Group winner: Portugal 2/5 with Betfred

Despite the ongoing Cristiano Ronaldo debate, Portugal are the clear favourites to win Group K and it’s hard to argue with their World Cup odds that are priced at 2/5 to top the group. Colombia have shown in recent friendlies against Croatia and France - conceding five - that their defensive issues certainly haven’t been fixed by Lorenzo.

Portugal have a squad built with depth and quality players across the park - and they should be able to do a professional job against all three of their opponents. Whether it’s Ronaldo, Joao Felix or Bernado Silva, Portugal have more match winners than most while remaining defensively resilient - which is so often the key to success in World Cups.

Portugal might not be one of the early favourites to win the World Cup, but their odds could shorten if they top group K. We'll know at the of group stages which teams are priced to go deep in the tournament.

Qualifiers & Longshot team to watch: Colombia 1/8 with Betfred

However, if Portugal do not deliver, Colombia can outscore most and that is what got them over the line and into 3rd place during the CONMEBOL qualifiers. Used to playing in extremely hot conditions - especially in Barranquilla - Colombia are a nation that can embrace the weather whereas European opponents further down the line will not.

Nestor Lorenzo’s tactics have been questioned at times but let’s not forget they went 26 matches unbeaten until last year, beat Spain in a friendly and also got to the Copa America final back in 2024. Lorenzo has nurtured this squad for quite some time and if they can put in some of the best performances this summer, they are a dangerous side against those who will struggle in the heat. If you're looking to redeem a World Cup betting bonus then using it on Colombia to qualify would be a good option.

We'll have betting previews for every group at the World Cup, and up next is Group L that includes England, Croatia, Ghana, and Panama, where you can find out how Group L is looking heading into the tournament.

World Cup Group K Standings

2026 World Cup Group K Fixtures

Bonuses to bet on Group K at the World Cup