ColombiavsPortugal

Result

A cagey stalemate sent Colombia through as Group K winners and Portugal as runners-up. Colombia carried the better chances and forced Diogo Costa into six saves, and thought they had snatched a late winner only for a VAR review to chalk it off for a marginal offside. The point leaves Colombia top and Portugal second, into the sterner half of the draw.

Colombia 4-3-34-2-3-1 Portugal

Colombia

Portugal

Gustavo Puerta86'

55%Possession45%

24Shots13

6On target2

2Saves6

5Corners2

485Passes completed405

89%Pass accuracy91%

15Tackles9

34Touches in box13

Substitutions

Richard Ríosfor Jefferson Lermaat 60'

Diogo Dalotfor João Canceloat 45'

Luis Suárezfor Jhon Córdobaat 60'

João Nevesfor Rúben Nevesat 45'

Kevin Castañofor Jhon Ariasat 76'

Rafael Leãofor João Félixat 70'

Juan Fernando Quinterofor James Rodríguezat 76'

Samú Costafor Vitinhaat 70'

Daniel Muñozfor Santiago Ariasat 87'

Matheus Nunesfor Nuno Mendesat 90'+2'

At this Stage

Group K's last question was answered without a goal: the 0-0 in Miami gives Colombia the group at seven points — unbeaten, one conceded all stage — and leaves Portugal second at five, also unbeaten but with two draws where wins were needed. The goals column carries the irony: Portugal's +5 is comfortably the group's best difference and it purchased nothing, because Colombia kept turning matches into points instead. Behind the pair, Congo DR beat Uzbekistan 3-1 to reach four points and third place, a tally that now goes into the best-third pool to be measured against other groups — the Leopards wait. Uzbekistan finish bottom with three defeats. Colombia even had a late winner chalked off by VAR, which suits the story: this group's title was won on points quietly kept, not goals loudly scored.

Group K

Team	P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
Colombia	3	2	1	0	+3	7
Portugal	3	1	2	0	+5	5
Congo DR	3	1	1	1	+1	4
Uzbekistan	3	0	0	3	-9	0

Top two (above the accent line) advance to the round of 32; the third-placed team is in the race for one of the eight best-third spots.

What we know now

What I said beforehand

The preview, frozen at kickoff. Clearly dated, never rewritten — that's the deal that makes the predictions worth anything.

Honours even between two qualified sides. Colombia (six points) have already reached the last 32 and lead Group K, while Portugal (four) are all but through and need a win to take top spot. With both teams largely safe, the incentive to overcommit is limited, and a controlled game could finish level. Portugal carry more firepower through Cristiano Ronaldo and Rafael Leão, but Colombia have been excellent and stingy, with James Rodríguez orchestrating and Luis Díaz a threat. I'll call a draw that suits Colombia. 1-1.

Both cases written 2026-06-26, before kickoff — they freeze into the record exactly as written, however the match goes. The percentages are mine, quoted to a decimal because false precision is funnier — the unclaimed 40% belongs to the draw.