Beijing, June 8: Cristiano Ronaldo’s quest for a first FIFA World Cup title will be one of the major talking points in Group K, which features Portugal, Colombia, DR Congo and World Cup debutants Uzbekistan.
Portugal
Ranked fifth in the world, Portugal qualified as UEFA group winners and arrive as UEFA Nations League champions. Coach Roberto Martinez has blended experience and youth, with Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias and Nuno Mendes forming the core alongside emerging midfield stars Vitinha and Joao Neves.
At 41, Ronaldo is set to play in his sixth World Cup. While he has won the UEFA Euro and two Nations League titles, the World Cup remains the one major trophy missing from his glittering career. Midfielder Vitinha, fresh from a Champions League-winning season with Paris Saint-Germain, is expected to play a pivotal role.
Colombia
World No. 13 Colombia returns to the World Cup after missing out in 2022. Under coach Nestor Lorenzo, the South Americans finished third in qualifying and reached the 2024 Copa America final.
Winger Luis Diaz remains their biggest attacking threat after scoring seven goals in qualification, while midfielder Richard Rios has emerged as a key figure ahead of his World Cup debut. Colombia’s best World Cup performance remains its quarterfinal run in 2014.
DR Congo
DR Congo returns to the World Cup for the first time since 1974. The African nation will rely on experienced Premier League stars Yoane Wissa and Aaron Wan-Bissaka as it seeks to progress beyond the group stage for the first time.
Wissa leads the attack, while former England youth international Wan-Bissaka, who switched allegiance in 2025, is set to make his World Cup debut.
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan has made history by becoming the first Central Asian nation to qualify for a FIFA World Cup. Coached by former Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro, the side is led by veteran striker Eldor Shomurodov and defender Abdukodir Khusanov.
Shomurodov, the country’s all-time leading scorer with 44 goals, will captain the team, while Khusanov, the first Uzbek player to join Manchester City, is expected to be a key figure in defence as Uzbekistan embarks on its maiden World Cup campaign.
While Portugal will start as favourites to top the group, Colombia possess enough quality and experience to challenge for the top spot, making their clash a potential highlight of the opening phase of the tournament. DR Congo will be eager to prove that its return to the World Cup after more than five decades is no mere coincidence, while Uzbekistan’s historic debut offers an opportunity to showcase the growing strength of football in Central Asia.
Above all, however, Group K is likely to be defined by Ronaldo’s pursuit of the one trophy that has eluded him throughout his illustrious career.
The Portuguese captain’s presence alone ensures that one of the tournament’s most intriguing groups will command global attention from the very first match. (IANS)
