News, goals, and analysis – only on the official A BOLA app. World Cup Now, Portugal is qualified for the next stage of the 2026 World Cup. Less than 24 hours before the decisive match against Colombia for first place in Group K, the National Team is already guaranteed at least as one of the best third-placed teams. England, Ghana (coached by Carlos Queiroz), Egypt, and Paraguay also qualified from the sidelines. The qualification was mathematically resolved around 3 a.m. this Saturday, due to the results in Group H, where Cape Verde drew with Saudi Arabia (0-0) and Spain defeated Uruguay (1-0), resulting in the elimination of both Uruguay and Saudi Arabia with only two points. With four points from a draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo (1-1) and a thrashing of Uzbekistan (5-0), the Portuguese team needed only that Uruguay did not win against Spain (they lost) and that there was no winner in the Cape Verde – Saudi Arabia match (it ended in a draw). Both conditions were met when only one was needed, and thus, in the worst-case scenario, Portugal finishes in third place in Group K and as the 8th best third-placed team in the tournament. Only three groups remain to be played that are not ours – those of Croatia, Algeria, and Belgium – meaning that even if Portugal were surpassed by the other three teams in those groups and suffered a heavy defeat against Colombia (falling behind Paraguay, Bosnia, Ecuador, and Sweden in goal difference), they would still not drop out of the top 8. Therefore, they will always perform better than Senegal, South Korea, and Scotland (all with three points and three matches played) and also Uruguay (two points in three matches). The calculations are simple: winning against Colombia means finishing in 1st place in the group, and a draw would keep them in 2nd place. To drop to third position, they would need to lose and for the Democratic Republic of Congo to win against the already eliminated Uzbekistan, recovering from a 6-goal difference.
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