World Cup 2026: What are the knockout round scenarios in Group K?

Saturday will see the final matches in Group K at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

And it is all to play for.

A massive match between Colombia and Portugal likely determines who wins the group, while both DR Congo and Uzbekistan are still alive in the chase for the knockout rounds.

Here are the scenarios in Group K ahead of the final day of matches.

What are the standings in Group K?

Here are the standings ahead of the matches set for Saturday, June 27:

What are the next matches in Group K?

Here are the two remaining matches in Group K. All times listed are Eastern.

Tuesday, June 23

Portugal 5, Uzbekistan 0
Colombia 1, DR Congo 0

Saturday, June 27

Colombia vs. Portugal, 7:30 p.m.
DR Congo vs. Uzbekistan, 7:30 p.m.

What are the scenarios in Group K?

Here are the scenarios ahead of the final day of matches, set for June 27. These scenarios involve automatic qualification for the Round of 32 as one of the top two teams in the group. Teams can still advance as a third-place team, and for more on those standings we have you covered here. In addition, teams that are “eliminated” are guaranteed to finish fourth in their group.

Colombia

Colombia is already guaranteed a spot in the Round of 32 as one of the top two teams in Group K. They will win the group, and book a match against a third-place team, with a win or draw against Portugal.

A loss to Portugal means Colombia will finish second in Group K, and play the second-place team from Group L in the Round of 32.

Portugal

Portugal has not clinched a spot in the Round of 32 just yet, but can still win the group with a win against Colombia.

They will finish second in Group K with:

• A draw against Colombia
• A loss to Colombia, and a DR Congo loss or draw against Uzbekistan
• A loss to Colombia, a DR Congo win against Uzbekistan, and a win over DR Congo in the subsequent tiebreakers. Note that Portugal is ranked ahead of DR Congo in the FIFA World Rankings, which is the final tiebreaker

DR Congo

DR Congo will finish second with a win over Uzbekistan, a Portugal loss to Colombia, and then a win over Portugal in the tiebreakers.

They will be eliminated with a loss to Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan

They will be eliminated with a loss or draw to DR Congo.

What about tiebreakers in Group K?

Here is how tiebreakers work at the World Cup this year. If two or more teams in the same group are equal on points following the group stage, a three-step process will be followed to determine tiebreakers.

In the first step, the greatest number of points in the group matches between the tied teams will be applied. Then, the superior goal difference from the group matches between the tied teams will be applied, and finally, the greatest number of goals scored in all group matches between the tied teams will be applied.

If that cannot determine a tiebreaker, then the teams that are still equal will advance to step two. In this stage, the first step is the goal difference in all group matches, then the greatest number of goals in all group matches, and finally the highest team conduct score (relating to yellow and red cards) will be applied.

If that does not break the tie, then the teams still equal on points will be ranked according to the most recent FIFA World Rankings.

That first step, which reads “greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned” according to FIFA, effectively turns into a head-to-head tiebreaker in the case of ties between two teams.

Tiebreakers could come into play between Portugal and DR Congo, if Portugal loses to Colombia and DR Congo defeats Uzbekistan. That would see both Portugal and DR Congo finish with four points. Portugal’s massive goal differential advantage looms large here, as Cristiano Ronaldo and company enter the final day of matches in group play with a +5 in that category, compared to DR Congo’s -1. Those two sides played to a draw to open group play.