Colombia

Colombia enter World Cup 2026 in Group K, where the early tests are Portugal, DR Congo, and Uzbekistan. Colombia have never won the World Cup, but their 2014 quarterfinal run remains the national benchmark, powered by attacking verve and one of the tournament's great individual performances. The current squad is shaped around Luis Diaz, James Rodriguez, and Jhon Arias, a core that gives the team recognizable quality in the moments that usually decide group-stage matches: set pieces, transition attacks, and pressure around the box.

For this tournament, the assignment is both tactical and psychological: start quickly, protect the middle of the pitch, and make the group feel uncomfortable before the knockout picture forms. Diaz gives Colombia direct threat, while James can still decide games with delivery and vision. In Group K, they have enough to challenge Portugal and target the knockouts. If Colombia can turn its best individual stretches into a full 90-minute platform, the campaign has room to grow beyond a simple participation story.