Ladbrokes previews Portugal vs Uzbekistan in Group K at the 2026 World Cup, with bet builder tips
Portugal backed to get their first win of the tournament, with Bruno Fernandes testing the keeper twice
Cristiano Ronaldo tipped to break another goalscoring record, while Abdukodir Khusanov picks up a card
Ladbrokes brings you an in-depth match preview for Portugal vs Uzbekistan in Group K at the 2026 World Cup, including odds, predictions, and bet builder tips.
Roberto Martinez's side got off to a stuttering start with a draw against DR Congo in their opener, but with Uzbekistan falling to defeat against Colombia, it's still Portugal who are tipped as heavy favourites to pick up all three points here - so can Cristiano Ronaldo inspire his nation to victory?
Below, we've put together the ultimate Portugal vs Uzbekistan bet builder, with potential starting lineups, our score prediction, and the latest live betting markets - so read on!
With three shots against DR Congo last week, Ronaldo is still working his way into decent positions - even at the age of 41 - and his finishing is too refined to not take one of the chances - especially with the quality of creators behind him. Over 140 international goals speak for themselves, and in what should be the easiest game remaining in Portugal's 2026 World Cup campaign, the legendary forward is bound to have his say.
So we're tipping Cristiano Ronaldo to score against Uzbekistan, taking his career World Cup tally to nine.
The approach from Roberto Martinez's side simply has to be different in this one, with Portugal only managing seven shots in their opener - fewer than DR Congo's eight - so we're expecting much more intent from the likes of Bruno Fernandes. The 31-year-old has become known for his assists more than anything, but with an average of 2.5 shots per 90 in the Premier League last season - and just under a shot on target per game - he's likely to bring his shooting boots to Texas.
So we're tipping Bruno Fernandes to have 2+ shots on target against Uzbekistan, potentially looking to catch the goalkeeper out from range.
Abdukodir Khusanov to be shown a card
Switching our focus to the cards markets, and the third pick of our Portugal vs Uzbekistan bet builder is for Abdukodir Khusanov to be shown a card here, with the young defender finding himself exposed on the right-hand side of a back three.
Khusanov's pace and power has become very apparent over the last year or so, so he's certainly capable of holding his own against the threat of any winger, but the likes of Rafael Leao, Pedro Neto, and a host of other names will give him a serious test. The Manchester City man was booked in his nation's opener against Colombia, committing three fouls in the match, and with a Premier League average of roughly one foul committed per 90, he seems a smart pick to catch the referee's attention here.
The fourth and final pick of our Portugal vs Uzbekistan bet builder is for Portugal to win, with Roberto Martinez's side putting the drab opening-day draw behind them to claim all three points in Texas.
With Colombia already having three points on the board in Group K, Portugal know anything other than a win here would be disastrous for their chances of topping the group, so while the pressure will be on, we're anticipating an electric, front-footed performance from the Selecao das Quinas. Uzbekistan are without a win of any kind since March, while Portugal have lost just once since March 2025, and with 45 places separating these two teams in the world rankings, this should be a reasonably one-sided affair.
So we're backing Portugal, with the Group K hopefuls really making their mark on the tournament.
You can bet on each of these markets individually, or combine them to create a Portugal vs Uzbekistan Bet Builder. Plus, with Bet Builder+, you can combine your bet not only with other World Cup matches, but also with different sports.
Portugal vs Uzbekistan takes place on Tuesday, 23 June, with kick-off for the Group K match scheduled for 18:00 BST.
How can I watch Portugal vs Uzbekistan at the World Cup?
The World Cup match, Portugal vs Uzbekistan, will be shown live on ITV and ITVX for UK viewers.
Can you bet on Portugal vs Uzbekistan?
Ladbrokes are offering customers the chance to bet on a number of Portugal vs Uzbekistan markets, including match result, both teams to score, and over/under total goals.
