FIFA World Cup 2026 Group K brings together Netherlands, Ivory Coast, Uzbekistan and Colombia for a three-match round-robin between June 17 and June 27, 2026. The top two advance directly to the Round of 32; the third-placed side has a chance via the best-third-place bracket.
Key Takeaways
- Group K teams: Netherlands, Ivory Coast, Uzbekistan, Colombia.
- Projected winner: Netherlands; runner-up: Colombia.
- Matchday 1: June 17, 2026. Matchday 3 (simultaneous final round): June 27, 2026.
- Matches staged across: NY/NJ / Boston / Philadelphia.
- Top two qualify automatically; third place is in play via the best-third-place rule.
Contents
The four teams in Group K
Netherlands
Manager: Ronald Koeman. Key players: Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo, Frenkie de Jong. Confederation: UEFA.
Three-time runners-up (1974, 1978, 2010). Never won. Strong squad with knockout pedigree – expects to finish in the top two.
See full Netherlands squad analysis for tactical breakdown and player profiles.
Ivory Coast
Manager: Emerse Fae. Key players: Sebastien Haller, Franck Kessie, Wilfried Singo. Confederation: CAF.
Three appearances. Reigning AFCON 2024 champions. Outsiders for advancement but with a real chance via the best-third-place rule.
See full Ivory Coast squad analysis for tactical breakdown and player profiles.
Uzbekistan
Manager: Timur Kapadze. Key players: Eldor Shomurodov, Abbosbek Fayzullaev, Oston Urunov. Confederation: AFC.
World Cup DEBUT in 2026. Outsiders for advancement but with a real chance via the best-third-place rule.
See full Uzbekistan squad analysis for tactical breakdown and player profiles.
Colombia
Manager: Nestor Lorenzo. Key players: Luis Diaz, James Rodriguez, Daniel Munoz. Confederation: CONMEBOL.
2014 quarter-finalists. Copa America 2024 runners-up. Dangerous middle-tier side capable of taking points from any opponent on its day.
See full Colombia squad analysis for tactical breakdown and player profiles.
Group K fixture schedule
Each team plays three matches across three matchdays. Matchday 3 fixtures kick off simultaneously to prevent collusion.
| Matchday | Fixture 1 | Fixture 2 |
|---|---|---|
| MD1 (June 17) | Netherlands vs Colombia | Ivory Coast vs Uzbekistan |
| MD2 | Netherlands vs Uzbekistan | Ivory Coast vs Colombia |
| MD3 (June 27) | Netherlands vs Ivory Coast | Uzbekistan vs Colombia |
Full kickoff times and venue assignments are on our World Cup 2026 schedule page.
Group K prediction
Our pre-tournament model rates Netherlands as the most likely group winner, with Colombia as runner-up. Ivory Coast is the most plausible third-placed candidate with a path through the best-third-place bracket; Uzbekistan enters as a clear outsider.
The decisive matchup: Netherlands vs Colombia on Matchday 3 likely decides top spot, with first place rewarded by a theoretically easier Round of 32 tie against a third-placed qualifier. For our running tournament projections, see the predictions hub.
Frequently asked questions
Which teams are in World Cup 2026 Group K?
Group K contains Netherlands, Ivory Coast, Uzbekistan, Colombia. The grouping is from the FIFA Final Draw held on December 5, 2025 in Las Vegas.
When does Group K play?
Group K fixtures run from June 17 to June 27, 2026 across three matchdays. Matchday 3 plays simultaneously to prevent collusion.
Who is favourite to win Group K?
Netherlands enters as Futbolzen’s projected group winner, ahead of Colombia. Group is competitive but Netherlands has the strongest squad profile.
Where do Group K matches take place?
Group K matches are spread across: NY/NJ / Boston / Philadelphia. For city-by-city details see our host cities hub.
How do third-placed teams advance from Group K?
The 48-team format takes the best eight third-placed teams across the 12 groups into the Round of 32. Group K’s third-place finisher is in play, but goal difference and goals scored against the top three become the tiebreaker.
What’s next?
- Full schedule with kickoff times
- All 48 teams – squad analyses
- Predictions hub – tournament forecasts
- Host cities – venue and travel guides
- Latest news – daily updates
Last updated: May 23, 2026 by the Futbolzen editorial team. Tell us if you spot something out of date via our Corrections Policy.