The challenge facing Portugal

Tomorrow, Portugal will make their 2026 World Cup debut against DR Congo at Houston Stadium in Texas.

Both teams are in Group K, which also features Colombia and Uzbekistan. Only the top-placed teams will progress to the round of 16.

For many fans, Portugal are the clear favourites to top the group. The team currently sit fifth in the FIFA rankings, behind only Argentina, France, Spain and England.

Furthermore, they are taking one of the most star-studded squads in world football to the tournament, with 10 players who have previously been nominated for the Ballon d’Or: Cristiano Ronaldo (18 times), Bernardo Silva and Rúben Dias (3), Vitinha (2), as well as Bruno Fernandes, João Cancelo, João Félix, João Neves, Nuno Mendes and Rafael Leão (1 each).

A team full of stars

At 41, Cristiano Ronaldo will be playing in his sixth World Cup. A five-time Ballon d’Or winner, he also heads into the tournament as the all-time leading goalscorer for the Portuguese national team, with 143 goals.

Three of the squad members have also been nominated for the Kopa Trophy: João Neves and Nuno Mendes (twice each) and João Félix (once). Meanwhile, goalkeeper Diogo Costa has received a nomination for the Yashin Trophy, an award for the world’s best goalkeeper.

60 years of tradition

Portugal also heads into the World Cup backed by a rich footballing history.

Prior to this edition, the national team has competed in eight World Cups and made its mark right from its debut in 1966, when it finished in third place. The star of that campaign was the Portuguese legend Eusébio, the tournament’s top scorer with nine goals.

Winner of the Ballon d’Or in 1965, Eusébio is one of only three Portuguese players to have won the award since its inception in 1956. The others are Luís Figo, in 2000, and Cristiano Ronaldo, a five-time winner (2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017).

Throughout history, 38 Portuguese players have been nominated for the award, a figure that reflects the country’s tradition of producing elite talent.

In World Cups, Portugal have scored 61 goals in 35 matches. These goals were scored by 28 different players, in addition to three own goals in the team’s favour.

But how do these figures compare with those of the other teams in Group K? Let’s analyse Portugal’s record alongside DR Congo, Colombia and Uzbekistan.

The Congolese comeback

Portugal will make their 2026 World Cup debut against DR Congo, currently ranked 45th in the FIFA rankings.

One of the 10 African teams taking part in the tournament, the Congolese secured their place by beating Jamaica in the intercontinental play-offs and are returning to the World Cup for the first time in over 50 years.

Their only previous appearance was in 1974, when the country was still known as Zaire. At the time, the team made history as the first representative from Sub-Saharan Africa to compete in the tournament.

Despite winning the Africa Cup of Nations in 1968 and 1974, their campaign at that World Cup was extremely disappointing. Zaire lost 2–0 to Scotland, 3–0 to Brazil and suffered a 9–0 defeat to Yugoslavia – a result that remains one of the most memorable in World Cup history. Having conceded 14 goals, scored none and suffered three defeats in three matches, the team ended up recording one of the most disastrous campaigns ever seen in the tournament.

Now, more than half a century later, the DR Congo returns to the biggest stage in world football determined to write a very different story from their first appearance.

To this end, they boast a talented squad, even without any players who have previously been nominated for the Ballon d’Or. In defence, the experience comes from West Ham United’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Burnley’s Axel Tuanzebe, who scored the goal that secured qualification against Jamaica. In midfield, Sunderland’s Noah Sadiki and Lille’s Ngal’ayel Mukau are among the standout players. Up front, the key figures are veteran Cédric Bakambu of Real Betis and Yoane Wissa of Newcastle United.

Uzbekistan’s debut

The following week, on the 23rd, Portugal face Uzbekistan, one of the debutants at this World Cup.

Current holders of the CAFA Nations Cup, the country are making history by becoming the first Central Asian side to qualify for the tournament. Currently ranked 50th in the FIFA rankings, Uzbekistan is also only the third former Soviet republic to compete in a World Cup, after Russia and Ukraine.

Although it has never had a player nominated for the Ballon d’Or, the national team has been attracting attention for its steady progress in recent years. With strong performances in the qualifiers and competitive results in friendlies, the Uzbeks have been making their mark on the international stage until reaching football’s biggest stage.

The standout player in the squad is 22-year-old Abdukodir Khusanov. The Manchester City centre-back has established himself as one of the most promising players in his position in the Premier League and is regarded as the team’s star player.

Although it has no representatives amongst the Ballon d’Or nominees, Uzbekistan has two interesting links to the award.

The first occurred in 2012, when the national team received the FIFA Fair Play Award during the Ballon d’Or ceremony, in recognition of the exemplary conduct of the national team and several of the country’s clubs.

The second connection lies on the bench. The current manager is Fabio Cannavaro, one of the greatest defenders in the history of football. Captain of Italy’s 2006 World Cup-winning side, he also won the Ballon d’Or that year. Furthermore, he was nominated for the award on two other occasions, in 2005 and 2007.

The Colombian threat

Finally, on 27 June, Portugal will round off their group stage campaign against Colombia.

Currently ranked 14th in the FIFA rankings, the South American side is seen by many as the main obstacle for Cristiano Ronaldo’s team in the battle for top spot in Group K.

Whilst this will be Uzbekistan’s first World Cup and only the DR Congo’s second, Colombia arrive at the tournament with more experience. Los Cafeteros have already competed in six editions of the competition, having made their debut in 1962 – four years before Portugal’s first appearance.

Since then, the team has also featured in the 1990, 1994, 1998, 2014 and 2018 World Cups. Throughout these campaigns, they have scored 32 goals in 22 matches, with 20 different players finding the net.

The Colombians also took part in the 1990, 1994, 1998, 2014 and 2018 tournaments, scoring 32 goals in 22 matches, shared amongst 20 different goalscorers.

The high point of Colombia’s World Cup history came in 2014. After more than 15 years without competing in the tournament, the team surprised the world by reaching the quarter-finals and scoring 12 goals in five matches. During that same campaign, they won the Fair Play Award and saw James Rodríguez finish as the tournament’s top scorer, with six goals.

That campaign also earned Rodríguez a Ballon d’Or nomination in 2014, which he received again the following year. He is now competing in his third World Cup as one of the national team’s most experienced players.

But Rodríguez is not the only Colombian to have been nominated for the award. Luis Díaz, currently at Bayern Munich, received a nomination in 2022. Together, they form part of a very exclusive group: only three Colombians have ever been nominated for the Ballon d’Or.

The third name is Radamel Falcao, one of the greatest strikers the country has ever produced. A regular in the national team between 2007 and 2023, he was nominated for the award on two occasions and finished fifth in the 2012 vote, whilst playing for Atlético Madrid.

Who are the strongest contenders?

Although none of the four national teams have won a World Cup, they have all won major titles on their respective continents.

In UEFA, Portugal won the 2016 European Championship and the 2019 and 2025 editions of the Nations League. Under CAF, the DR Congo won the Africa Cup of Nations in 1968 and 1974, as well as the African Nations Championship in 2009 and 2016 and the Central African Games in 1981. Under the AFC, Uzbekistan’s main achievements include the gold medal at the 1994 Asian Games and the 2025 CAFA Nations Cup. Colombia, meanwhile, lifted the 2001 Copa América and won gold at the 1946 Central American and Caribbean Games.

When it comes to recent form, Portugal has the edge over DR Congo and Uzbekistan. In their last 10 matches, the Portuguese have recorded seven wins, two draws and just one defeat. Over the same period, DR Congo recorded five wins, three draws and two defeats, whilst Uzbekistan had four wins, three draws and three defeats.

Portugal’s superiority is also evident in attack. They have scored 26 goals in their last 10 matches, compared to 11 for the DR Congo and 12 for Uzbekistan.

Colombia, however, emerges as a far more tangible threat. In their last 10 matches, the Colombians have recorded seven wins, one draw and two defeats, scoring 25 goals – figures very close to those of Portugal.

As they are spread across different continents, these teams have little history of playing against one another. Even so, many of their players have shared a dressing room at some of the world’s biggest clubs. And this continues to be the case today. One of the best-known examples is Abdukodir Khusanov, who plays for Manchester City alongside the Portuguese players Matheus Nunes and Rúben Dias.

What can we expect from Group K?

On the basis of statistics, history and the quality of the squad, Portugal appear to enter Group K with a clear advantage over their opponents.

But will the national team live up to their status as favourites?

Will they progress as one of the title contenders?

Or will the World Cup have yet another surprise in store?

Tomorrow, we’ll start to find out.