Colombia vs DR Congo: The Group Leaders Meet the Team Who Held Portugal

Predictions

Colombia are the firm favorites here, and after a strong 3-1 win, most people expect them to keep rolling.

DR Congo just held Portugal though, so do not write them off too quickly.

• Our prediction: Colombia win 2-0, with Luis Diaz the difference.
• BetMGM: a Colombia win, with the favorites edging it.
• Yahoo Sports: Colombia to win in a tight game.
• OneFootball: a Colombia win, leaning to under 2.5 goals.

Why does this game matter so much?

Here is what makes this one worth your time.

This is Colombia against DR Congo, and both teams come into it on a high.

Colombia came out of the gates fast and now lead the group, so they smell a chance to take real control of it.

They opened with a 3-1 win over Uzbekistan, and they looked sharp doing it.

DR Congo did something even braver in their first game.

They earned a 1-1 draw against Portugal, one of the biggest names at this World Cup.

So this is not the favorites against a team just happy to be here.

It is the group leaders against a side who already proved they can stand toe to toe with anyone.

Why are Colombia the favorites?

Colombia are 13th in the FIFA rankings, the higher-ranked side by a wide margin.

That gap showed in the opener, where they scored 3 and looked dangerous all night.

The man making them tick is their star winger Luis Diaz, who plays for one of the biggest clubs in Europe (Bayern Munich).

He scored and set up a goal in the first game, the kind of all-around display that wins matches on its own.

Under Nestor Lorenzo they have grown into a confident, attacking team that loves the ball.

The bookmakers see it the same way, because they make Colombia firm favorites at about -200, which is roughly a 66% chance to win.

The draw is out around +333 and a DR Congo win sits at about +550, so the market expects Colombia to handle this.

Why are DR Congo still dangerous?

DR Congo are 56th in the FIFA rankings, so on paper they are the clear underdogs here.

But that point against Portugal told a very different story.

Their forward Gael Kakuta is a smart, quick attacker who can carve out a chance from almost nothing.

Behind that front line they have real pace and energy, and they run hard for the full 90 minutes.

Running the team is Sebastien Desabre, who has them organized and tough to break down.

And there is the belief factor too, because a team that just held Portugal walks into this one fearing no one.

So if they defend well and hit Colombia on the break, DR Congo really do have a chance to grab another result.

Our call: Colombia 2-0

We are going with Colombia 2-0.

Colombia have the higher class, the form, and a winger in Luis Diaz who can decide a game in a flash.

We think his quality is the thing that finally cracks a stubborn DR Congo.

But we do not expect an easy night for the leaders.

DR Congo are organized and brave, and they will make Colombia work for every chance.

So we lean toward a tight, low-scoring win rather than a comfortable one.

What is at stake?

Right now Colombia sit at the top of Group K on 3 points.

DR Congo and Portugal share 1 point each, and Uzbekistan are still on 0.

Two teams from the group are sure to go through to the next round.

On top of that, a few of the strongest 3rd-place teams across the tournament also slip into the knockouts.

A second Colombia win would put them in firm control of the group, with one foot already in the next round.

For DR Congo, any kind of result would keep them right in the mix and back up the point they took from Portugal.

That is the pull of this one, the leaders chasing command of the group while the underdogs chase belief.

Where and when can you watch?

The game is on Tuesday June 23, 2026, at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Kickoff is 20:00 (8:00 PM) local time.

You can also see all the details on the match page.

Need a seat for it? Take a look at our World Cup tickets guide.