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Portugal and Colombia are emerging as the top favorites in the , which also includes Uzbekistan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, two teams with unique histories and reasons to challenge any predictions.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 is the twenty-third edition of the tournament and the first to feature 48 teams and three host countries: Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
All eyes are on Portugal, which arrives with one of the most complete squads in the tournament, valued at approximately 1.020 million euros, the fourth most expensive in the championship behind France, England, and Spain.
Under the leadership of Roberto Martínez, the Portuguese team combines experience with a new generation that has already established itself in the European elite: Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Rafael Leão, Vitinha, João Neves, Nuno Mendes, and Rúben Dias.
The additional allure comes from Cristiano Ronaldo, who at 41 years old could compete in his sixth World Cup and become one of the tournament's standout figures.
However, Colombia arrives determined to challenge that favoritism.
South Americans are currently experiencing one of their best recent moments, supported by a solid foundation that includes Luis Díaz and James Rodríguez, along with Jhon Arias, Richard Ríos, Juan Fernando Quintero, and Jorge Carrascal in midfield and attack.
The coffee defense also provides assurances with Dávinson Sánchez, Yerry Mina, and Jhon Lucumí, and the team arrives with the ambition to surpass its best performances in the World Cup.
Behind the favorites stands Uzbekistan, which has made history by becoming the first Central Asian team to compete in a World Cup.
The Uzbeks qualified in June 2025, finishing second in Group A of the Asian qualifiers with 14 points and without losing a single match, securing their spot with a 0-0 draw against the United Arab Emirates.
They arrive without pressure and with the hope of becoming one of the surprises of the championship.
On its part, the Democratic Republic of the Congo returns to the world stage 52 years later after its only participation, when it competed as Zaire in the 1974 World Cup in Germany, where it was the first representative from Sub-Saharan Africa in a World Cup.
Their qualification for 2026 came through the intercontinental playoff, where they defeated Cameroon and then Nigeria in penalties.
The Group K calendar kicks off on June 17 with Portugal facing the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Houston and Uzbekistan taking on Colombia in Mexico City.
The second matchday, on June 23, pits Portugal against Uzbekistan in Houston and Colombia against the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Guadalajara.
The decisive match will take place on June 27 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, when Colombia and Portugal face off in a clash that could determine the group leadership and promises to be one of the best matches of the entire group stage.
On paper, Portugal has the advantage thanks to the depth of its squad, but Colombia has enough talent and experience to challenge the Europeans, and surprises are always present in a World Cup.
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