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Cape Verde continued its strong showing at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a 2-2 draw against Uruguay in Group H at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Sunday.
Both teams now have two points, while Spain leads Group H with four points after its match. Saudi Arabia is at the bottom with one point.
Cape Verde started strong and took the lead in the 21st minute when Kevin Pina scored from a free-kick that Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera could not stop.
The small Atlantic island nation, playing in its first World Cup, had already drawn with Spain in its opening match and looked confident against the two-time champions.
Uruguay answered late in the first half. Maximiliano Araujo equalized in the 44th minute, and Agustin Canobbio then put Uruguay ahead in stoppage time, making it 2-1 at halftime.
This comeback seemed to give Uruguay the advantage for the second half, with Muslera’s experience and a solid defense expected to secure the win.
But Cape Verde fought back. In the 61st minute, Helio Varela took advantage of a mistake by Muslera, who left his goal and was caught out of position, and scored the equalizer.
There were a few good chances in the final minutes, and the match finished 2-2 with neither team able to score a winner.
The draw was especially meaningful for Cape Verde, as the team scored its first-ever World Cup goal in this tournament against Uruguay. Earning back-to-back draws against Spain and Uruguay shows the debutants are making a strong impression as they aim for a spot in the knockout rounds.
Before the match, Cape Verde coach Bubista spoke about his team’s goal of playing fearlessly on the world stage, and his players lived up to that promise.
In the last round of Group H games, Uruguay will play Spain and Cape Verde will face Saudi Arabia. With all four teams still in the running, these matches will decide which two advance to the knockout stage.
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