Colombia and Portugal meet in Miami with top spot in Group K up for grabs
Colombia have already reached the round of 32 and Portugal are all but through. Their meeting in Miami is about who tops Group K, with Cristiano Ronaldo and James Rodríguez both likely playing their last World Cup.
Jun 27, 2026
Of all the final-round group games at this World Cup, the pick for neutrals might be the one in Miami. Colombia and Portugal meet at Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday night, 5:00am IST on Sunday for anyone watching in India, with first place in Group K the prize. Colombia have already booked their place in the round of 32. Portugal are all but there too. What is left to settle is who finishes top, and the seeding and bracket route that follow.
How the group lines up
Colombia lead the group on six points after beating Uzbekistan 3-1 and then edging DR Congo 1-0 with a late goal. That second win sealed their progress with a game to spare. Portugal sit a point back on four. They opened with a 1-1 draw against DR Congo that flattered nobody, before thumping Uzbekistan 5-0 in a game that put Cristiano Ronaldo back in the headlines. His two goals that night made him the first player to score at six different World Cups, a record that says as much about his longevity as anything else.
A win for either side guarantees top spot. A draw hands it to Colombia and still almost certainly carries Portugal through as runners-up. Running at the same time over in Atlanta, DR Congo play Uzbekistan, with the Congolese needing a win and a heavy favour from elsewhere to keep a faint hope alive. Uzbekistan, beaten in both their matches, are already out.
Two ageing greats, one last stage
The match carries a weight beyond the table. At 41, Ronaldo is almost certainly playing in his final World Cup, still chasing the one major prize that has escaped him. Across the halfway line, James Rodríguez is in a similar boat. The Colombian playmaker lit up the 2014 tournament as its top scorer and has spent the years since drifting between clubs and continents. A deep run here would be a fitting last act for a player who has always looked made for the big stage.
Colombia are not a one-man team, though. Luis Díaz, sharp after a productive season in Germany, scored in the win over Uzbekistan and gives them a runner who can hurt any defence in behind. Their football has been quick and direct, and a Miami crowd that will be heavily Colombian should add to the noise. Portugal, for all Ronaldo’s gravity, have more midfield control and depth in the squad, and may choose to rotate now that qualification looks safe.
What is really at stake
Finishing top is not a trophy, but in a 48-team tournament the knockout bracket can be unforgiving, and avoiding an early meeting with one of the big seeds is worth chasing. Expect both managers to weigh that against the risk of injuries and tired legs with the round of 32 only days away. Even a half-strength version of this fixture has enough star quality to be worth staying up for. If both sides go at it properly, it could be the game of the round.