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Cristiano Ronaldo's bid for a first FIFA World Cup title will be one of the major storylines in Group K bringing together Portugal, Colombia, DR Congo and debutant Uzbekistan, reported Xinhua. PORTUGAL The team: Ranked fifth in the world rankings, Portugal advanced as the group winner in the UEFA qualifiers and arrives at the tournament as the UEFA Nations League champion. Coach Roberto Martinez has assembled a squad that combines experienced internationals with emerging talent. Midfielders Vitinha and Joao Neves were part of Paris Saint-Germain's UEFA Champions League-winning side, while Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva remain key figures for club and country. In defense, Ruben Dias and Nuno Mendes bring experience from the highest level of European football. Portugal's best World Cup result came in 1966, when it finished third. Star player: Captain Ronaldo is set to appear at his sixth World Cup. He led Portugal to the UEFA Euro 2016 title and has also won two UEFA Nations League trophies. The World Cup remains the only major international title missing from his honor list. Player to watch: Vitinha, 26, helped PSG win the Champions League and Ligue 1 in the 2025-26 season. He has become a regular starter for Portugal and is one of the team's key midfielders. COLOMBIA The team: 13th-ranked Colombia returns to the World Cup after missing the 2022 finals. Under Argentine coach Nestor Lorenzo, Colombia finished third in South American qualifying and reached the Copa America final in 2024. The squad is led by Bayern Munich winger Luis Diaz and former Real Madrid midfielder James Rodriguez. Colombia's best World Cup result, a quarterfinal finish, came in 2014. Star player: Diaz has been a mainstay of the Colombia side in recent years. The 29-year-old scored seven goals during the qualifiers and played a key role in Colombia's run to the 2024 Copa America final. Player to watch: Richard Rios, 26, will be making his World Cup debut. The midfielder has become a regular starter for Colombia and was part of the team that reached the Copa America final. DR CONGO The team: DR Congo returns to the World Cup for the first time since 1974, securing qualification by defeating Cameroon, Nigeria and Jamaica in the latter stages of the qualifying process. The squad includes Premier League players Yoane Wissa and Aaron Wan-Bissaka. DR Congo has never progressed beyond the group stage at a World Cup. Star player: Wissa has established himself in the Premier League and is among the most experienced attacking players in the DR Congo squad. Player to watch: Wan-Bissaka switched international allegiance from England to DR Congo in 2025. A former Manchester United player who has made more than 230 Premier League appearances, the 28-year-old defender will be making his World Cup debut. UZBEKISTAN The team: Uzbekistan will make its FIFA World Cup debut after becoming the first Central Asian team ever to qualify for the tournament. The team is coached by Fabio Cannavaro, who captained Italy to the 2006 World Cup title. Uzbekistan secured qualification with matches to spare and arrives with a squad led by striker Eldor Shomurodov and defender Abdukodir Khusanov. Star player: Captain Shomurodov is Uzbekistan's all-time leading scorer with 44 goals. The 30-year-old played a key role in helping his country qualify for its first FIFA World Cup and will lead the side at the tournament. Player to watch: Khusanov, 22, became the first Uzbek player to join Manchester City and will be among the key figures in the team's defense.
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