Colombia have the opportunity to book their place in the last 32 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 when they face DR Congo in a pivotal Group K encounter at Estadio Akron. Kick-off is scheduled for 3:00am BST / 10:00pm ET (Tuesday) / 12:00pm AEST.

Where to watch for free

Fans across several regions can watch the match without paying a penny. In the UK, ITV 1 will broadcast the game free-to-air, with coverage beginning at 2:30am BST — an account and valid TV licence are required. Irish viewers can tune in via RTÉ Player, while Australian fans can stream live and free on SBS On Demand. Other free-to-air options include CazéTV on YouTube in Brazil, NOS in the Netherlands, RTBF/VRT in Belgium, SRF/RTS/RSI in Switzerland, and TRT in Turkey. English commentary is available on ITV, RTÉ Player, and SBS On Demand.

In the US, the match is available on FS1, accessible through Fox One — which carries both Fox and FS1 and offers a 3-day free trial before moving to $19.99 per month — or via cord-cutting platforms such as YouTube TV, Hulu+Live TV, Sling, Fubo, and DirecTV.

Colombia: confident but not complacent

Los Cafeteros arrived at this tournament under a cloud of doubt after pre-tournament friendly defeats to France and Croatia, yet they dispelled any concerns with an authoritative 3-1 win over Uzbekistan in their opening fixture. Goals from Daniel Munoz, Luis Diaz, and Jaminton Campaz gave Nestor Lorenzo's side a commanding debut in North America.

Diaz was the standout performer — the Bayern Munich forward struck the woodwork early, provided an assist, and finished with a well-taken goal of his own. Captain James Rodriguez also posed a persistent threat from the right flank, and Jefferson Lerma offered stability in central midfield.

However, Lorenzo will not be without worries. Uzbekistan created a number of clear openings, exposing a vulnerability to deliveries into the box, with goalkeeper Camilo Vargas appearing uncomfortable when dealing with crosses.

DR Congo: the Leopards are not here to make up the numbers

DR Congo arrive in Zapopan off the back of a remarkable 1-1 draw with Portugal — a result that confirmed Sébastien Desabre's side are no mere makeweights in this group. They absorbed sustained pressure from Cristiano Ronaldo and his teammates before Yoane Wissa — setting aside a difficult spell at Newcastle United — scored his country's first-ever World Cup goal in first-half stoppage time to earn a deserved point.

Midfielder Samuel Moutoussamy was central to DR Congo's defensive solidity, providing tireless cover in front of his backline. He will be asked to deliver a similarly energetic display here, helping his full-backs contain the combined threat of Diaz and Rodriguez.

The one question mark over the Leopards is fatigue — having exerted enormous energy in the Texas heat against Portugal, Desabre's players must summon fresh legs against a Colombian side eager to press relentlessly for 90 minutes.

Group K preview and prediction

With Colombia's attacking quality and DR Congo's proven ability to absorb pressure and strike on the counter, this promises to be a compelling contest. Ultimately, the depth of Colombia's forward line may prove the decisive factor — a narrow 2-1 win for Los Cafeteros appears the most likely outcome in Zapopan.