World Cup Preview: Group K
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup now underway, we continue to preview each of the tournament's twelve groups through a Ligue 1 McDonald's lens, continuing with Group K: Portugal, DR Congo, Colombia and Uzbekistan.
Portugal
FIFA Ranking: 5
Current Ligue 1 McDonald's players:
There are four Portuguese players who play in France's top flight and all of them play for PSG: Vitinha, Joao Neves, Nuno Mendes, and Goncalo Ramos. In total, a further eight played in Ligue 1 McDonald's during the 2025/26 season, including veteran goalkeeper Anthony Lopes and Lyon's Afonso Moreira, who, given his excellent debut season in France, will harbour his own ambitions of making the national team.
Tournament outlook:
Pundits have Portugal as one of the favourites to go all the way and with good reason, given their strength across the pitch. Arguably, there is no side more balanced than Portugal. From goalkeeper, through the defence, into the midfield - arguably the best in the world - and the attack, there is quality everywhere. For Cristiano Ronaldo, likely playing in his final World Cup, this is his last shot and so the motivation for him and his teammates to win it in North America will be high.
Ligue 1 McDonald's legend: Anthony Lopes
Given that PSG's current quartet have led the club to back-to-back Champions League titles, they could claim to be legends in their own right, but not just yet. But the pick here is a player who is still playing and who last season played for Nantes, Lopes.
Lopes getting emotional in his return to Lyon 🥹🇵🇹 pic.twitter.com/FnjYK0tX20
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) November 30, 2025
The goalkeeper has been around since 2011, having risen through the academy at Lyon. He has been an ever-present for over a decade. His long affiliation with OL came to an end last summer. Including his stint at Nantes, he has made an incredible 427 appearances in Ligue 1 McDonald's. In terms of foreigners in France's top flight, only Hilton and Delio Onnis have racked up more caps.
colombia
FIFA Ranking: 14
Current Ligue 1 McDonald's players:
Deiver Machado, who began the season at Lens and who finished it at Nantes is the only player of Colombian nationality currently playing in Ligue 1 McDonald's. The defender has also previously played for Toulouse. He has made their World Cup squad.
Tournament outlook:
There is quality in this side and lots of experience. Davinson Sanchez, David Ospina, Richard Rios, James Rodriguez, Luis Dias, Luis Suarez... but unlike Portugal, it is less balanced and more patchy. It is also an ageing side, especially in defence. There are goals in this side, however. In CONMEBOL qualifiers, only Argentina scored more. They finished third in those qualifiers, behind the aforementioned Argentina and Ecuador.
Ligue 1 McDonald's legend: Radamel Falcao
One of the most iconic players in Colombia's history, Carlos Valderrama played in Ligue 1 McDonald's. His move to Montpellier represented his first club in Europe and he would win the Coupe de France with La Paillade.
The Colombian duo - James Rodríguez & Falcao 🇨🇴😮💨 pic.twitter.com/UvropoPTL5
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) May 25, 2025
However, in terms of impact, it is difficult to overlook the excellent Falcao. He had a lot of fun in Ligue 1 McDonald's, netting 83 goals in 140 appearances for AS Monaco and guiding them towards the title back in 2017.
DR COngo
FIFA Ranking: 46
Current Ligue 1 McDonald's players:
In total, there are five players playing in France who have been called up by DR Congo, including one in Ligue 2 BKT (Nathanel Mbuku, Montpellier). Le Havre's Lionel Mpasi received the call, as did Lens' Arthur Masuaku, as well as Lille duo Chancel Mbemba and Ngal'ayel Mukau.
Tournament outlook:
DR Congo are one of the teams that had to pass through the qualifiers and, subsequently, their chances of progressing past the Group Stages may be slim, although the new format does make this phase of the competition a little more forgiving. Unfortunately for DR Congo, their main man, French-born Yoane Wissa, has had a tough campaign, during which he has had to assimilate at a new club (Newcastle United) whilst also contending with a serious injury.
Ligue 1 McDonald's legend: Gael Kakuta
Shabani Nonda, formerly of Monaco, notably, is a veritable cult hero in France, but it is difficult to look beyond Kakuta. The mercurial winger is still playing albeit no longer in France.
The one and only, Gaël Kakuta 🪄🇨🇩 pic.twitter.com/yYpBbghwVn
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) December 30, 2025
The winger, who went on to play for Chelsea, was an absolute joy to watch. A graduate from Lens' academy, he also played for Amiens and Dijon in France. He would play 106 times for Amiens, 69 for Lens, and 14 for Dijon. Beyond his goals, he left an impression as one of the most exciting players to have graced Ligue 1 McDonald's this century.
Uzbekistan
FIFA Ranking: 50
Current Ligue 1 McDonald's players:
There are currently no Uzbeks playing in France's top-flight, and, in fact, there is only one to have ever played in the competition, Manchester City's Abdukodir Khusanov.
Tournament outlook:
This will be Uzbekistan's first-ever World Cup; they have come close on several other occasions. They finished behind only Iran in their group and lost only one of their 16 games (against Qatar). It is a largely settled and experienced team, but there is a lack of athleticism and an inability to play out from the back. Placed in a difficult group, this could be tough for Uzbekistan.
Ligue 1 McDonald's legend: Abdukodir Khusanov
Khusanov is the only Uzbek to have played in France and he did not stick around for too long. The defender was bought by Lens for a fee of just €450k back in 2023 and just 18 months later he was off to Manchester City. His first season was one of adaptation, but when there was an exodus in the defence the following summer, he stepped up. His performances were immediately recognised by Man City and, just four months into his first season as a first-team regular, he was gone for €40m. He made 31 appearances for Lens.
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