Who will Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal face in FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage?

Colombia stand as Ronaldo and Co.’s toughest test.

UEFA Nations League Champions Portugal have been drawn in a balanced group alongside teams from three different confederations. Cristiano Ronaldo and Co. will face South American powerhouse Colombia, debutants Uzbekistan, and the winner of the FIFA Inter Confederation Playoffs 1.

Opponents in Group K

• From Pot 2 – Colombia
• From Pot 3 – Uzbekistan
• From Pot 4 – Jamaica/Congo/Caledonia

After missing the last edition, Colombia are back on football’s biggest stage. They entered the draw as one of the top-seeded teams from Pot 2. They made it to the quarter finals in 2014, and this time will look up to players like Luis Diaz, Radamel Falcao, and Yerry Mina.

Uzbekistan are the debutant in the FIFA World Cup 2026. They had been one of the strongest Asian teams to never feature in the World Cup. They have regularly made it to the knockout rounds in AFC competitions and would be keen to make the most of their first of many opportunities next summer.

The winner of the game between New Caledonia and Jamaica will face Congo for a berth in the FIFA World Cup. Congo have previously played as Zaire in the 1974 World Cup, whereas Jamaica, the Caribbean heroes, even defeated Japan in the 1998 World Cup. New Caledonia, on the other hand, can be another debutant.

Portugal coach Roberto Martinez and who got them here

Roberto Martinez was the coach of the golden generation of the Belgium football team, which clinched a bronze medal finish in the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Under Martinez, the Portuguese team won the UEFA Nations League recently. His tactics played a key role in his side’s road to the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Players who played a key role in Portugal’s qualification

Apart from that infamous red card incident, Cristiano Ronaldo had a brilliant campaign in the World Cup Qualifiers. It seemed as if the legend wanted to pour his every drop of sweat, blood, and tears in his last World Cup. He emerged as the joint-highest goalscorer of Group F with five goals in five qualifier games.

Bruno Fernandes also had an impressive campaign in the qualifiers. He scored three goals, and his creativity from the centre of the park saw Portugal create many goal-scoring opportunities. The Manchester United captain was suspended for a game after picking up two back-to-back yellow cards.

How did Portugal qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup?

Portugal were drawn alongside England, the Republic of Ireland, and Armenia in Group F. Out of six games, they managed to win four, draw one, and lost a solitary match to the Republic of Ireland. They emerged as the table toppers of Group F with 13 points, scoring 20 goals while conceding only seven goals.

World Cup history

Portugal failed to qualify for the first few editions of the World Cup before making their debut in 1966. In their maiden appearance, they shocked everyone by clinching a bronze medal finish in England. Things, however, didn’t change much. Later, they only qualified in 1986 until the dawn of the new century.

Since 2002, Portugal have played every single World Cup and came agonisingly close to another bronze medal in 2006. In the last two editions, they reached the Round of 16 and Quarter Finals before Uruguay and Morocco knocked them out, respectively.

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