Portugal had already secured their place in the knockout round before the final matchday of Group K on the morning of June 28th (Vietnam time). Therefore, the match against Colombia was no longer a do-or-die game, but it was still very important in the race for first place in the group.
Portugal needed a win to overtake Colombia, which would have allowed them to enter a more favorable bracket. However, the 0-0 draw meant Cristiano Ronaldo and his teammates finished second in Group K with 5 points, behind Colombia.
Portugal is in a very difficult bracket.
PHOTO: REUTERS
This match also left many questions about Portugal's form. Colombia were the more incisive team at times and even put the ball in the net in injury time, but Davinson Sanchez's goal was disallowed by VAR for offside. Meanwhile, Ronaldo had another lackluster game as he was neutralized by the opposing defense.
A tough bracket awaits Portugal.
Finishing second in Group K means Portugal will face Croatia in the Round of 32. This is a tough challenge, as Croatia is a highly experienced team that often plays very resiliently in knockout matches. They were also the runners-up in the 2018 World Cup .
If Portugal overcomes Croatia, they will face the winner of the match between Spain and the runner-up in Group J in the round of 16. Given their current level and form, Spain is considered a very formidable opponent should the two teams meet.
Furthermore, in this bracket, Portugal could potentially face strong teams like the Netherlands, Germany, or France. This makes Portugal's path to the next round much more difficult than initially expected.
The price of losing the top spot.
What's more worrying for Portugal isn't just the difficult draw, but also their performance in the group stage. Before the tournament, the European Seleção were considered one of the teams with the best squad depth at the 2026 World Cup, boasting a host of stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha, Rafael Leao, Bernardo Silva, and Diogo Costa. However, that strength hasn't yet translated into a convincing style of play. Aside from their emphatic victory against Uzbekistan, Portugal struggled against both the Democratic Republic of Congo and Colombia. They controlled possession well but lacked speed in their build-up play, their ability to create breakthroughs was limited, and they relied heavily on individual moments of brilliance.
Colombia managed to get the ball into the net against Portugal, but the goal was disallowed due to offside.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Goalkeeper Costa had a busy day and was voted Man of the Match.
PHOTO: REUTERS
This has led many to question whether Portugal is truly ready for the knockout stage. With opponents like Croatia, and potentially Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, or France, simply having many stars isn't enough. These teams all have very stable systems and are ready to punish any mistakes. Without improving their ability to capitalize on opportunities and their cohesion in play, Ronaldo and his teammates' journey could end sooner than expected.
Unfortunately for Portugal, they had the opportunity to choose a more favorable position. Against Colombia, Roberto Martinez's team wasn't playing to qualify, but to avoid being drawn into a tough bracket.
Ronaldo was lackluster in the final group stage match of the 2026 World Cup.
PHOTO: REUTERS
However, a lackluster performance prevented Portugal from achieving their goal. Besides a resounding victory against Uzbekistan, Portugal drew with the Democratic Republic of Congo and then with Colombia. This shows they still lack the necessary consistency before entering the knockout stage.
For Ronaldo, this could be the last World Cup of his career. But instead of an easier path, he and his teammates will have to start the knockout round with a tough match against Croatia, and possibly Spain immediately afterward. The 2026 World Cup has only just entered the round of 32, but for Portugal, the do-or-die stage has arrived very early.