With the 2026 World Cup nearly here, we go through every group in the expanded 48-country field and examine the teams, highlight the most recent odds, and make predictions.
Portugal and Colombia are the clear top teams in Group K, and the former is one of the biggest odds-on favorites to claim its top spot. DR Congo and Uzbekistan will likely compete for an unlikely third-place qualification, making their match a vital one.
The 2026 World Cup represents Cristiano Ronaldo’s likely final chance to add the trophy to his extensive collection. The 41-year-old is far from the height of his powers, but he also has one of his best supporting casts ever. Portugal showcased that during its Nations League success in 2025, which came thanks to a semi-final win over Germany and a final win over Spain. It was proof that Roberto Martinez’s system could lead to World Cup glory.
Ronaldo will continue to grab the headlines, and he was Portugal’s top goalscorer during a solid qualification run. But the team’s midfield is its top strength. Bruno Fernandes is the creative force, boasting an innate ability to provide goal-scoring chances. With PSG stars Vitinha and João Neves sitting behind him, Portugal might have the best midfield in the tournament. Winning Group K should be light work, but Portugal will have its sights set on a deep run.
| To Win Group | To Qualify For RO32 | To Win World Cup |
| -250 | -10000 | +1000 |
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BetMGM, one of the best World Cup betting sites, sees Colombia as the main threat to Portugal in 2026 and has the elite talent to take advantage if Ronaldo and Co. stumble out of the gates. The South American outfit showcased its credentials with a Copa América final appearance and a third-place finish in qualifying that included wins over Argentina and Brazil. Colombia’s confidence took a hit with March friendly losses to Croatia and a weakened France team.
But Colombia is still capable of a solid run into the knockout stages, even if its issues in defense limit its ceiling. Luis Díaz is now the main man for his team. He is coming into the World Cup after a career year as part of Bayern Munich’s devastating attack. Now 34, James Rodriguez isn’t the player he once was. But he is still the heart of Colombia’s midfield, feeding the likes of Díaz and striker Luis Suárez, who had 37 goals for Sporting CP. Colombia’s approach might be boom or bust, but either way, they’re sure to entertain.
| To Win Group | To Qualify For RO32 | To Win World Cup |
| +250 | -1000 | +4000 |
A shock win over Jamaica earned DR Congo its first World Cup berth since 1978. With the wait finally over, the team will be looking to score its first-ever goal at the World Cup when it kicks off its tournament against Portugal. Expecting much beyond that is optimistic, though DR Congo has gotten used to taking down major African teams in its ascent to relevancy.
Newcastle winger Yoane Wissa is crucial to DR Congo’s success. He was injured for AFCON, but fans were relieved to see him return to full fitness ahead of the World Cup. His pace and goal-scoring threat will be a problem for opposing defenses in Group K. The problem is that the team lacks other players capable of scoring against elite opposition. As a result, DR Congo might struggle to steal the points needed to earn a third-place qualification.
| To Win Group | To Qualify For RO32 | To Win World Cup |
| +900 | -155 | +75000 |
Legendary Italy defender Fabio Cannavaro will lead Uzbekistan into its debut World Cup. In a brutal decision, the team ousted Timur Kapadze despite the manager leading the team to qualification. Uzbekistan will be hoping Cannavaro can use all his experience to form a team capable of grinding out results with its defense.
That starts with Abdukodir Khusanov, who has excelled since joining Man City in a big-money move. The 22-year-old center back is wise beyond his years and now has experience playing against the very best in the Premier League and Champions League. The other key player is all-time leading scorer Eldon Shomurodov, who led the team in goals and assists in qualifying. Anything other than last is hard to see for Uzbekistan, but Cannavaro likely won’t make it easy for the rest of Group K.
| To Win Group | To Qualify For RO32 | To Win World Cup |
| +4000 | +185 | +100000 |
Portugal is the favorite, but it’s Colombia that we see coming out on top in Group K. It might even come down to goal difference, with a draw in the game between the two heavyweights. We still think Portugal can make a deep run, but a slow start is possible as the team figures out its best starting XI. Meanwhile, with Díaz and Suárez, Colombia should rack up the goals against DR Congo and Uzbekistan.
As we said, Portugal will still easily make it out of Group K in second place. But they’ll be the only others to advance to the knockout stage. DR Congo and Uzbekistan play in an all-important final game, but with heavy losses likely in their other matches, even the winner will struggle to secure a third-place qualification spot.
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Odds are courtesy of BetMGM and accurate at the time of writing.
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