World Cup Group K Betting Guide: Betfair traders rate Congo DR, Colombia, Portugal and Uzbekistan

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Colombia

Odds to win the World Cup: 40/141.00
Odds to win Group K: 2/13.00

Profile 

In the 12 years since they reached the quarter-finals of the 2014 World Cup, Colombia's fortunes have been mixed, with a Round of 16 exit in 2018 on penalties to England, followed by the shock of missing out entirely in 2022. Now belief is building again. A 2024 Copa América campaign that ended in an extra-time defeat to reigning world champions Argentina has reignited optimism, with Colombia back in the conversation as dark horses - dangerous, unpredictable, and capable of going deep. 

How they qualified for World Cup 2026 

Colombia secured their place in a tightly contested CONMEBOL group, finishing third on goal difference. They recorded notable wins against both Argentina and Brazil, highlighting their ability to compete with the top sides. Colombia finished as the second-highest scorers in CONMEBOL qualifying,  thanks in part to Luis Diaz's seven goals. A cause for concern would be the 18 goals they conceded in qualifying - the most of any team that reached the finals. 

The Manager 

Néstor Lorenzo took charge after the failure to qualify for the 2022 World Cup and has restored structure, belief and consistency. A former assistant coach under José Pékerman during two previous World Cup campaigns, Lorenzo already knew the system and key players and he has built on that foundation to the make the team organised and disciplined. There are still defensive frailties but they are a far more balanced and competitive side than in the last qualifying cycle. 

The Squad 

Colombia normally lineup in a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 formation. They have a strong core of players who play at a high level in Europe. Díaz is the main attacking outlet, offering pace and direct threat from wide areas, while the evergreen James Rodríguez provides creativity and experience in the central role. Luis Suárez (not to be confused with his Uruguayan counterpart), who leads the line, scoring 38 goals this season for Sporting Lisbon. Daniel Muñoz - one of the best full backs in the Premier League the last couple of years - adds energy and attacking width. Beyond the first-choice options, there is a noticeable drop in quality, particularly in attacking areas. 

Key man 

Luis Díaz is Colombia's main attacking force, combining pace, directness and end product. He arrives off the back of a career-best season at Bayern Munich, registering 49 goal contributions in 53 appearances across all competitions. He is the undisputed focal point for Colombia. He finished as the second-highest scorer in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying. 

One to Watch 

Keep an eye on Richard Ríos. The Benfica midfielder has quickly become one of the first names on Colombia's teamsheet thanks to his energy, ball-carrying ability and all-action style in midfield. Having just turned 26, Ríos is entering his prime and could use the World Cup to introduce himself to a much wider audience. If Colombia make a deep run, he could emerge as one of the tournament's breakout stars. 

Tournament Prospects 

Colombia have enough quality to reach the knockout stages, but their path beyond that could prove difficult. If they finish second in their group, a likely Round of 16 meeting with Spain could be too big a hurdle. Winning the group would offer a more favourable route, although Colombia would still likely need to overcome at least one of the tournament favourites to make a deep run. A place in the quarter-finals would be viewed as an excellent campaign but, realistically, Colombia's primary objective should be winning a knockout match.

Author: Kieran Westerberg

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Congo DR

Odds to win the World Cup: 500/1501.00
Odds to win Group K: 16/117.00

Profile 

Congo DR have returned to the World Cup stage for the first time in 52 years. After narrowly missing out on qualification to both the 2018 and 2022 World Cup it has finally worked out. A factor in crossing the line was the recruitment of key players  Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Axel Tuanzebe. Young talent, such as Noah Sadiki and Ngal Ayel Mukau, are also huge factors for now and the future. 

How they qualified 

Congo DR qualified thanks to a golden generation of talent. They finished a close second to Senegal in their original qualifying group and were among the top 4 second-placed teams throughout the continent. They beat Cameroon then won a dramatic penalty shootout against Nigeria. In a one-off Intercontinental playoff final, Tuanzebe's first and only goal for the country in extra-time secured World Cup qualification. 

The Manager 

Sebastian Desabre took over as DR Congo manager in August 2022. Fans could have been forgiven for calling Desabre overly optimistic after he stated: "Our goals are to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 and to take part in the World Cup 2026." But they started to believe in Desabre after qualifying for the 2023 edition of AFCON and reaching an unexpected semi-final.  Prior to managing DR Congo, Desabre spent a quarter-of-a-century bouncing around top tier north African teams and had an 18-month stint as Uganda manager. 

The Squad  

Congo played a 4-1-4-1 for the whole of AFCON 2025 but that was only because of Yoanne Wissa's long-term injury. With Wissa back fit the Congolese will be expected to line up in a more attacking 4-4-1-1 with the Newcastle forward just off Bakambu. The back five and spine picks itself with Samuel Moutoussamy playing the holding role and Noah Sadiki acting as the legs of the team. The two wide positions are likely to be filled by two of Meschack Elia, Nathanaël Mbuku and Théo Bongonda. 

Key Man 

Cédric Bakambu. With his great experience at the world's highest level, his teammates will be relying on the big striker if they want to make an impact this summer. At 35 this will likely be his last tournament with DR Congo. Bakambu has played in the top divisions at top teams in Spain, France, Turkey and Greece since. With Bakambu scoring 21 times in 52 games for his nation, his contribution will be key.

One to watch/Rising Star 

After a brilliant debut season with Sunderland, Noah Sadiki is a rising star. The 21-year-old is an engine in midfield who is viewed as a bit of an all-rounder but would be deemed as a more defensive than offensive player, cleaning up and anticipating danger. If Sadiki has a good tournament, he could be in line for a big move, following in the footsteps of Mesut Ozil, James Rodrigez and Enzo Fernandez.  

Tournament Prospects 

With a tricky group ,DR Congo will be looking for a win over Uzbekistan . They will also hope their mean defence can help them grab a point elsewhere and sneak through as one of the best third place teams.

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Portugal

Odds to win the World Cup: 9/110.00
Odds to win Group K: 4/91.44

Profile

Portugal have the deepest squad in their history. Unlike previous Portuguese sides, which were overly reliant on Ronaldo, this team has elite quality in goal, defence, midfield and wide areas.   After winning EURO 2016 and the UEFA Nations League in 2019, Portugal is no longer viewed as a dark horse. However, quarter-final exits at EURO 2020 and the 2022 World Cup left the feeling that this squad should perhaps have achieved more already. This may be Cristiano Ronaldo's last dance and the first tournament where João Neves, Vitinha and Nuno Mendes make their mark. 

How they Qualified 

Portugal qualified comfortably. They dominated possession in almost every qualifier and were particularly impressive offensively, regularly overwhelming weaker sides with fluid attacking combinations and aggressive full-back play. Their only recurring issue remained occasional defensive lapses in transition a theme that has followed Roberto Martinez sides for years. 

The Manager

Martinez is one of the more divisive international managers. Tactically he is progressive, attack-minded and extremely good at building harmony inside a squad. His Belgium side consistently looked brilliant until they encountered elite opposition in knockout rounds of tournaments. Questions remain over whether Martinez has the tactical nuance needed to win seven-game tournaments against the very best nations. 

The Squad

Portugal will most likely operate in a 4-2-3-1 or flexible 4-3-3 system. The key strength of the squad is technical quality and versatility. They can dominate possession through midfield with Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva, but they also possess devastating transition threats through Rafael Leão and Pedro Neto. Nuno Mendes gives them one of the best left-sided outlets in world football while João Neves adds intensity and ball-winning ability that previous Portuguese midfields often lacked. 

Cristiano Ronaldo's legendary status guarantees enormous attention, but there is a growing sense that Portugal may function more fluidly with Gonçalo Ramos or another mobile forward leading the press. 

Key Man

Fernandes makes Portugal tick creatively. Everything dangerous tends to flow through him final passes, switches of play, set pieces, long shots and pressing triggers. When Bruno plays with emotional control and tactical discipline, Portugal is capable of beating anyone. When games become chaotic, Portugal can lose structure quickly.  His leadership and decision-making in knockout matches will be massive. 

One to Watch

Neves may already be viewed as one of the best midfielders in the world. He combines aggression, intelligence and technical prowess in a way that perfectly suits today's football. At 21, he plays with the maturity of a veteran. If he dominates games in midfield during this tournament, his profile could explode globally. 

Tournament Prospects

Portugal should expect to reach at least the quarter-finals. If the bracket opens favourably and Martinez finds the correct balance between control and attacking freedom, they are genuine contenders to win the tournament. The concern is whether Portugal become too passive against elite opposition or overly emotional in knockout moments. The talent level is there but they need to prove they can defeat elite nations in the knockout rounds.

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Uzbekistan

Odds to win the World Cup: 500/1501.00
Odds to win Group K: 20/121.00

Profile

Uzbekistan was part of the Soviet Union until the 1990s. Like other small nations occupied by the USSR, national identity was focused through their football team, Pakhakor, which became one of the most decorated clubs in Central Asia. However, disaster struck in 1979 when a mid-air collision between two aircraft killed 17 members of the first team in Ukraine. 

Now, 24 years on from their first international, Uzbekistan is experiencing its golden generation.

How They Qualified 

Uzbekistan came agonisingly close to qualifying for the previous two World Cups. In the 2018 qualifiers, they were level with Syria on points but missed out on goal difference. On the final matchday, both teams drew their matches, but Syria's fate was decided in dramatic fashion - a 93rd minute equaliser against Iran to secure qualification.

In the 2022 Asian qualifiers, the format allowed the five best runners-up from the second round to advance. Unfortunately, Uzbekistan finished just one point behind the cutoff, placed below both Tajikistan and Lebanon. 

The Manager

In October 2025, Uzbekistan parted ways with Slovenian coach Srecko Katanec and appointed a new manager in Fabio Cannavaro. The former Italian international and Ballon d'Or winner has transformed the national team from a typical Central Asian outfit into genuine contenders. While Cannavaro has limited experience managing elite clubs, having previously coached only China's national team (where he won numerous accolades), the 2026 World Cup presents a significant opportunity for both him and the squad to make their mark on the global stage.

The Squad

Abduqodir Khusanov is the standout star of the Uzbekistan national team. The Manchester City defender anchors a squad predominantly comprised of players from the Uzbekistan Super League, Russian Premier League, Turkish Super Lig, the Middle East, and lower-tier European leagues.

Khusanov's defensive leadership will be vital to Uzbekistan's prospects in the tournament.

Key Player

Eldor Shomurodov deserves a mention as the team's primary attacking threat. The striker, who played in Serie A and now leads the line for Turkish club Başakşehir, is Uzbekistan's joint top international scorer with 44 goals in 90 appearances--a remarkable record for a player from a smaller footballing nation.

One(s) to Watch

Two standout prospects are Abbosbek Fayzullaev (Başakşehir, age 22) and Abduqodir Khusanov (Manchester City, age 22).

Khusanov has appeared in most matches and is Uzbekistan's most influential player - not the captain or most experienced, but the defensive leader and key player to watch.

Fayzullaev, however, faces injury concerns. He missed all of Uzbekistan's matches this season and has been sidelined for approximately 100 days, missing 15-20 matches across club and international level. His availability for the tournament remains in doubt.

Tournament Prospects

Uzbekistan would need a miracle to advance from their group. They are heavy underdogs, and their draw is particularly challenging: they face Colombia in their opening match, Portugal second, and Congo third. Progressing from this group would represent a significant upset.

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World Cup Tips: How to bet Group K

To Reach Semi Finals - Portugal @ 2/13.00

Portugal's squad depth is built for tournament football. Their ability to rotate without major drop-off could become especially valuable in the heat and travel demands of a North American World Cup.

To Reach Round of 16 - Colombia @ 5/61.84

This bet is for those, who like us, believe Colombia are a dangerous team capable of good results, but still not quite at the upper echelons of world football. It's entirely feasible to see a path where Colombia finish second to Portugal in the group, beat either Croatia or Ghana in the round of 32, before falling to eventual finalists Spain in the round of 16.

Not Qualify From Group K - DR Congo @ 8/111.73 & Uzbekistan @ 2/51.40

Couple of things factor into this, but the main reason is that three points in the group gives you approximately a 67% chance of qualifying for the next round, but crucially then, goal difference will be an important factor as well. The group schedule sees both teams play each other last. Given that we are quite keen on Portugal and Colombia, we could see DR Congo and Uzbekistan head into their final game with zero points and, crucially, a quite negative goal difference.

Even if one of them manages to take a point off Portugal or Colombia, they will still most likely knock each other out with a draw in this final group game.

A combination of the above four legs with our new Bet Builder World Cup Outrights is priced at around 12/113.00.

Golden Boot - one to back, and one to avoid

Couple of final thoughts regarding goalscorers. Cristiano Ronaldo has scored at five World Cups, which is really impressive in so many ways, but it is somewhat disappointing when you realise the total is only eight goals and he has never scored in a knockout round. Therefore, we suggest avoiding backing Cristiano Ronaldo in outright Golden Boot markets.

Even if he starts the tournament, Portugal are increasingly spreading goals across multiple attackers rather than feeding one central striker exclusively. There is also a real possibility of managed minutes or tactical rotation later in the competition depending on opponents.

Instead, turn your attention to Luis Diaz. There is some value here each way at such a big price (currently 50/151.00). As mentioned, Diaz finished second in the goalscorer charts in CONMEBOL qualification with 7 goals, finding ways to score against some stingy defences. Coming up against teams like Uzbekistan and DR Congo in the group stage definitely gives him the chance to make his way up the goalscorer charts again.

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