World Cup 2026 Group K betting preview & team guide
Sports Journalist at FST, Gareth qualified as a journalist after graduating from university and spent over a decade as a freelance broadcast journalist, commentator and tipster before joining FST. Now living in Manchester, he is a long suffering Bolton Wanderers fan who also enjoys boxing, the NBA, tennis and rugby league.
Cristiano Ronaldo is gearing up for a record sixth World Cup with Portugal and the European heavyweights are the clear favourites to top Group K. Colombia will fancy their chances of taking one of the top two spots, with DR Congo and an Uzbekistan outfit making their debut probably batting it out for third place.
World Cup 2026 Group K winner betting odds
- Portugal – 4/9
- Colombia – 5/2
- DR Congo – 10/1
- Uzbekistan – 28/1
* All odds correct as of 3rd June, 2026 on bet365.com
Group K guide
Portugal
Overview
Most people probably thought the 2022 World Cup in Qatar would be Cristiano Ronaldo’s final appearance at the biggest international tournament but he will link up with the Selecao once again for what has to be one last time in the USA, Canada and Mexico. Ronaldo carried the Portugal team for a large period but now has a reduced role in a well-balanced set-up, and Roberto Martinez’s side will feel capable of a deep run in the tournament after being handed what looks a comparatively easy first round draw.
Strengths
This is probably one of the strongest all-round squads Portugal have had for some time, and they have what looks like a good balance between youth and experience. There also seems to be strength in depth across the squad, giving boss Roberto Martinez plenty of options for the tournament. Portugal have a number of technically gifted players and that allows them to be tactically flexible, they also have an exceptional stopper in Porto’s Diogo Costa and a solid defence.
Weaknesses
There is still an over reliance on Ronaldo as the central striker and that is perhaps the one area where this squad is lacking, with no backup option as an out-and-out centre forward. Their attacking full-backs also have a tendency to leave gaps in defence and they are vulnerable to counter attacks.
Prospects
Portugal should be viewed as potential candidates to go all the way and lift the World Cup for the first time in their history. They have enjoyed relatively recent success at the European Championships in 2016 and have a squad full of players who are used to winning trophies at club level.
Team guide
Best World Cup finish: Third place (1966)
Key player: Cristiano Ronaldo
Rising star: João Neves
Portugal predicted lineup (4-3-3): Costa; Cancelo, Dias, Inácio, Mendes; Neves, Vitinha, Fernandes; Silva, Leão, Ronaldo
Best Bet – Portugal to reach the quarter-finals at 5/4
There is a case to be made for Portugal being legitimate contenders for overall glory at 10/1 but the best angle is probably taking the more prudent approach and backing them to reach the last eight. Martinez’s team should top this batch of four and if they do manage to claim top spot they should have a comparatively easy route to the last eight.
Colombia
Overview
Colombia are back at the World Cup after missing the tournament in Qatar four years ago. Los Cafeteros tend to be a team that are easy on the eye with pacey wingers and technically gifted playmakers, and they will feel capable of making a deep run at the World Cup after being handed a favourable draw. They have also enjoyed recent strong performances on American soil at the 2024 Copa America.
Strengths
Colombia are particularly strong on the wing with Bayern Munich’s Luis Díaz among their options. They boast some strong options in midfield and veteran James Rodriguez remains a key creative force in the Colombia set-up. Manager Néstor Lorenzo has proven to be a shrewd tactician during his time in charge and he guided them to the final of the Copa America in 2024.
Weaknesses
Colombia perhaps rely a little too heavily on Diaz and Rodriguez and are lacking in squad strength, with their back-up players not at the same level as their regular starters. The team also tend to be susceptible to counter attacks as the gull-backs push high up the pitch.
Prospects
Winning the World Cup may be too big of an ask for Colombia but they are capable of giving any team in the competition a tough game if they are on form. Getting out of this group shouldn’t be a problem for this La Tricolor outfit and matching their 2014 run to the last eight seems a realistic goal.
Team guide
Best World Cup finish: Quarter-Finals (2014)
Key player: Luis Diaz
Rising star: Andres Gomez
Colombia predicted lineup (4-2-3-1): Montero; Munoz, Sanchez, Lucumi, Mojica; Rios, Lerma; Arias, Rodriguez, Diaz; Suarez
Best Bet: Colombia to reach the round of 16 at 11/10
Colombia have enough talent for a good run at the World Cup and they should be able to avoid a first round exit and from that point they would need to win one knockout round game to reach the last 16. If they were to claim second place in the group they’d face the runner-up of Group L in the next round and if they managed to edge ahead of Portugal and take top spot they would potentially have an easier route to the last 16.
DR Congo
Overview
DR Congo have qualified just once for the World Cup and that appearance came way back in 1974 when the nation was known as Zaire. They lost all three games and failed to score in their solitary World Cup appearance over 50 years ago. The Leopards should be optimistic of a far better showing in 2026, as they have enjoyed a couple of strong AFCON runs in recent years and have some talented forwards in their current crop of players.
Strengths
DR Congo have some good options in attack with Cédric Bakambu leading the line and Newcastle’s Yoane Wissa providing pace, creativity and quality. In defence Chancel Mbemba and Aaron Wan-Bissaka are part of a solid defensive core and they have a number of European based players within their squad.
Weaknesses
DR Congo look well staffed in defence and attack but their midfield options are perhaps limited. Players like Samuel Moutoussamy and Charles Pickel provide a strong engine, but lack creativity and they are lacking back-up options if either of those players is unavailable.
Prospects
Getting out of the group stage looks a realistic goal for DR Congo and anything beyond that would have to be considered a fantastic achievement. Boss Sébastien Desabre has turned this team into a well organised unit in his four years in charge and has guided them to the semi-finals and last 16 of AFCON, so they will feel capable of making an impact at World Cup 2026.
Team guide
Best World Cup finish: Group Stage (1974 as Zaire)
Key player: Chancel Mbemba
Rising star: Noah Sadiki
DR Congo predicted lineup (4-2-3-1): Mpasi; Wan-Bissaka, Mbemba, Tuanzebe, Masuaku; Moutoussamy, Pickel; Bongonda, Sadiki, Wissa; Bakambu
Best Bet: DR Congo to qualify at 1/1
On paper, DR Congo are unlikely to finish ahead of Portugal or Colombia but that can’t be ruled out entirely and they are capable of taking points from their games against the two favourites. They will fancy their chances of finishing above Uzbekistan and with third place potentially enough to reach the knockout stages they look a decent bet at evens to advance beyond the group stage.
Uzbekistan
Overview
Uzbekistan qualified for the World Cup for the first time in their history last year, but there was little reward for manager Timur Kapadze. He was replaced by Italian World Cup winner Fabio Cannavaro, one of three Italians who will be coaching at the tournament in spite of Italy’s failure to qualify.
Strengths
The appeal of Cannavaro lies in his playing history, rather than his patchy record as a manager. He hopes to instil a defence-first approach, with Uzbekistan playing with a back-three that includes Manchester City’s Abdukodir Khusanov.
Weaknesses
Istanbul Basaksehir forward Eldor Shomurodov will be carrying a huge scoring burden up front, with Uzbekistan lacking talent in the final third. His 22-year-old club teammate Abbosbek Fayzullaev among a supporting cast which is expected to struggle at this level.
Prospects
Uzbekistan will set themselves up to frustrate the more talented squads in this group, and their compact back five could keep them in the game for long spells. Playing DR Congo in their final game should ensure they take their qualification hopes into the final match, but they should ultimately prove to be the weakest side in the group.
Team guide
Best World Cup finish: N/A (Debut)
Key player: Eldor Shomurodov
Rising star: Abdukodir Khusanov
Scotland predicted lineup (3-4-3): Nematov; Khusanov, Ashurmatov, Abdullaev; Alijonov, Hamrobekov, Shukurov, Nasrulloev; Urunov, Masharipov, Shomurodov
Best Bet – Under 2.5 team total goals at 4/5
Goalless draws with Iran and Venezuela across their last three games point towards the issues the White Wolves will face in the final third. They face much stronger opposition at the finals, and they’re set to cover a lot of ground with a friendly in Canada followed by matches in Mexico City, Houston, and Atlanta. That, combined with their defensive style should see them struggle to score goals.
Build better bets with our free betting tips, predictions and accumulators, every day.
More betting news:
FST’s World Cup 2026 betting hub and schedule
View All Today’s Football Tips
Betting Academy: See our complete guide to football betting
To take full advantage of our Free Football Tips we recommend you take a look at our Free Bets page, where you can compare all the best free bets and special offers from the country’s top bookmakers.