Colombia’s great battle with Portugal for the 3rd matchday of the 2026 World Cup ended goalless (0-0), but the “X” was enough to give the Colombians first place in Group 11 and “send” them to face Ghana in the round of 32. On the other hand, the Portuguese, who had goalkeeper Diogo Costa as their top player, remained second in the group and will face Luka Modric’s Croatia in the first knockout match.
Colombia was stormy in the first half hour, missing very big opportunities with Cordoba (1′, header slightly offside) and Arias (18′ Diogo Costa save, 22′ save on the line by Ruben Neves). The Portuguese “woke up” after 30 minutes and in the 39th minute they missed an incredible triple chance. 

Initially, Vargas blocked Bruno Fernandes’s cross, then the defenders put a “stop” on Ronaldo’s backhand cross and at the end of the phase, Neves’ very powerful shot went just wide. Diogo Costa blocked another great shot by James in the 45’+2′, while he continued his great interventions in the 60′ with Arias’ shot that he fired with excessive intensity into his corner.

In the 89th minute, Ruben Diaz cleared a shot on the line, while in the progression of the phase, Luis Suarez’s shot went just over the posts. Colombia scored in the 90’+2′ with Davidson Sanchez, but his goal was canceled with VAR confirmation for a marginal offside of… the toe of the Colombian stopper’s shoe, with the 0-0 finally “sealing” the efforts of the two teams.

Referee : Alireza Fagani (Iran)
Yellow cards : 87′ Puerta
COLOMBIA (Nestor Lorenzo) : Vargas, Loukoumi, Santiago Arias (87′ Munios), Puerta, Machado, Sanchez, James Rodriguez (76′ Quintero), Jon Arias (76′ Castaño), Lerma (60′ Rios), Luis Diaz, Cordoba (60′ Suarez).
PORTUGAL (Roberto Martinez) : Diogo Costa, Dias, Veiga, Cancelo (46′ Dalot), Mendes (90’+3′ Nunes), Fernandes, Ruben Neves (46′ Joao Neves), Vitinha (70′ Samu Costa), Joao Felix (71′ Leao), Neto, Cristiano Ronaldo.