Posted June 28, 2026
Colombia and Portugal played out a thrilling 0-0 draw before a wall of sound at Miami Stadium, with both teams advancing to the round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup as the top two in Group K.
The Colombians will regret their profligacy in front of goal on Saturday, but take heart from dominating quality European opposition for long periods as they head to Kansas City as group winners to face Ghana on Friday.
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Portugal, which needed a win to top the group, travels north to Toronto to play Croatia on Thursday, knowing they still haven't found a way to combine all of their team's talent into an effective team.
The match began with a cacophony of noise coming from the massed ranks of yellow-shirted South Americans, and the decibel levels went up a notch when striker Jhon Córdoba headed the ball over the crossbar in the first minute.
Jhon Arias caused Portugal problems every time he ran at them, and he set Córdoba free in the 17th minute, the big goal unleashing a shot that goalkeeper Diogo Costa did well to stop.
After a beautifully flowing play five minutes later, winger Arias took a shot himself and sent the ball into the far corner of the net, only for Ruben Neves to arrive just in time to knock the ball off the line.
However, Colombia struggled at times to clear their lines cleanly, and it was this fragility that allowed Portugal to have their best opportunities towards the end of the first half.
Bruno Fernandes found himself free in front of goal in the 39th minute, with his shot prompting a good point-blank save from Camilo Vargas in the Colombian goal.
Three minutes before half-time, Joao Félix deftly flicked the ball over a defender and sent an acrobatic volley over the bar.
Colombia pressed forward, looking for the goal their dominance deserved, and both Gustavo Puerta and playmaker James Rodríguez bothered the goalkeeper with shots before the break.
Portugal attacked more after the break, but it was Colombia who continued to create the best chances, with Arias setting up substitute Richard Ríos for a shot that went wide.
Arias shot at goal, which was well saved by Costa, and Puerta once again had another wide chance just before the hydration break.
Rodríguez's volley was deflected off target in the 73rd minute, just before he and Arias were substituted, but Colombia continued to attack at every opportunity.
Davinson Sánchez thought he had scored the winning goal with a header at the far post with a minute left, but it was disallowed for a very tight offside after a VAR check.
Rafael Leao came close to winning for Portugal in stoppage time with a shot that crossed the goal, before the referee finally called an end to the entertaining match, played in front of a sweltering crowd of 64,478 in the Miami afternoon heat.
Portugal's totem, Cristiano Ronaldo, booed every time he touched the ball and deprived of service, barely had a chance and his only shot on goal was a long-range free kick that went straight at the goalkeeper.
Wissa sends DR Congo to round of 16 clash with England
In the group's other match, Yoane Wissa scored twice as DR Congo beat Uzbekistan 3-1 and qualified for the World Cup round of 32 for the first time in their history on Saturday.
They will face England after registering their first World Cup victory.
Eldor Shomurodov's lob over Lionel Mpasi gave Uzbekistan a perfect start in Atlanta.
But Newcastle striker Wissa equalized from the penalty spot, before Fiston Mayele's goal sent the mainly Congolese crowd into a frenzy.
Wissa closed a historic night for the Africans with a good goal in added time, his third goal of the tournament.
Earlier on Saturday, Jude Bellingham dragged England through a tough Panama test, scoring and setting up Harry Kane in a 2-0 victory that sent them into the World Cup round of 32 as winners of Group L.
England had to work for more than an hour in rainy New Jersey, before Bellingham broke the deadlock, crossing for Kane to head home his 11th World Cup goal, lifting him above Gary Lineker as England's all-time leading scorer in the tournament.
Meanwhile, Nikola Vlasic headed in a Luka Modric corner in the 83rd minute to lead Croatia to a 2-1 victory over Ghana on Saturday and finish second in World Cup Group L.
Vlasic's perfect finish inside the left post came 10 minutes after Derrick Luckassen had equalized for Ghana on his international debut, with half of the time in between devoted to a VAR review to determine whether it was in play.
Petar Sucic scored early for Croatia, who only needed a draw to reach the round of 16. Taking second place guaranteed the 2022 third-place finishers a meeting with Group K's second-placed Portugal on Thursday in Toronto.
