What do Portugal and DR Congo need to qualify for the World Cup knockouts from Group K? | OneFootball

The World Cup 2026 group stage is nearing its end but there will be drama right until the last kick, with business still yet to be done in Group K going into the final round of games.

Portugal will hope Cristiano Ronaldo can continue to silence the critics as they face high-flying Colombia, who have already qualified after winning two games on the trot to lead the standings.

But while topping the table will be the main stakes in Miami, elimination could beckon for DR Congo unless they are unable to overcome Uzbekistan, the Asian debutants who will be heading home after this meeting.

The last two matches in Group K will kick off simultaneously which could facilitate major shifts in the table.

What do Portugal need to qualify?

Portugal should already be home and dry as far as their knockouts progression is concern - they sit on four points which looks set to be enough for them to go through as one of the eight-best third-placed teams, at the very least. However, that eventuality would likely see them play England in the round of 32, so Portugal will surely be keen to up their place in the standings in their group finale.

A win will see Portugal leapfrog already-qualified Colombia into first, while a draw should be enough to go through as runners-up ahead of DR Congo, even if the African nation beat Uzbekistan, unless they are unable to overturn a goal difference deficit of six.

What do DR Congo need to qualify?

Congo are currently on one point and will know a win against Uzbekistan is a must if they want to progress. Doing so will take them to four points which will be enough for them to go through in third.

A significant win of six goals or more could even see them leapfrog Portugal into second if the Selecao lose to Colombia. The primary focus, though, is victory by any margin.

If teams finish on the same number of points their standing in the group will be determined by the head-to-head record against the nation they are level with. If one team tied on points with another has beaten them in the group stage, the winners will finish higher up the table.

Where multiple teams are level on points, a mini-league is created, removing the results against the remaining teams. Those tied teams are ranked by points won in the games involving each other, then by goal difference, followed by goals scored. If that does not split them, the next criteria is goal difference followed by goals scored for the group overall.

Any other tiebreakers?

If teams are still level on points following head-to-head results, goal difference and goals scored then the Team Conduct Score (TCS) comes into play. It is basically a fair play score and is rated based on the amount of cards a team has collected. Each team, including managers and backroom staff, started on zero and were deducted points throughout the group stage as follows:

The closer to zero, the better the score. If the teams are still level, whoever had the higher Fifa ranking in June's published update will go through.

How are the top eight third place finishers determined?

The top eight third place finishers will be decided on which teams have accumulated the most points.

Should eight or more nations finish third with the same number of points, the nations who progress will then be determined by goal difference.

In all likelihood, teams that finish third with four points or higher will go through, the teams on three points will need the best possible goal difference to progress.