Cabo Verde continued their FIFA World Cup 2026™ fairy tale by earning a shock 2-2 draw with Uruguay in Group H at Miami Stadium on Sunday 21 June, recovering from a half-time deficit to claim another point against a former world champion.
Kevin Pina’s long-range free-kick put the Blue Sharks in front, before Uruguay hit back with two quick goals late in the first half through Maxi Araujo and Agustin Canobbio. Cabo Verde then levelled after the break when Helio Varela capitalised on a defensive mix-up to make it 2-2, a result that left Uruguay with two draws from two matches and Cabo Verde also on two points after their goalless draw with Spain.
Pina was named the Michelob Ultra Superior Player of the Match after scoring what the report described as Cabo Verde’s maiden World Cup goal.
How Uruguay vs Cabo Verde unfolded
Cabo Verde took a surprise lead in the 21st minute after Telmo Arcanjo earned a free-kick. From 34 yards, Pina fired the set piece through a gap in the wall and into the bottom corner to make it 0-1.
Uruguay responded by swinging the contest in their favour just before half-time. Maxi Araujo equalised in the 44th minute, stooping to nod the ball home after Rodrigo Bentancur’s header came back off the post. Deep into first-half stoppage time, Uruguay moved ahead when Canobbio cushioned Araujo’s knock-down past Vozinha for 2-1 at 45+6.
Cabo Verde regrouped after the interval and were handed a route back into the match on 61 minutes. Varela pounced on a defensive mix-up and slotted home to restore parity at 2-2.
The report noted that it was “all Uruguay thereafter,” but Cabo Verde held firm. Uruguay were unable to break down a defence led by Pico Lopes and Sidny Lopes Cabral, as the Blue Sharks protected the point to keep their unbeaten start going.
Goals
Uruguay: Araujo (44), Canobbio (45+6)
Cabo Verde: Pina (21), Varela (61)
Key stat
Uruguay’s Fernando Muslera and Cabo Verde’s Vozinha ensured that two goalkeepers in their 40s started a World Cup game for the first time ever.
What the draw means in Group H
The 2-2 result left Uruguay second in Group H with two points from two matches, having drawn both of their opening games. Cabo Verde also moved to two points from two matches, with two draws and a goal difference of zero after scoring twice and conceding twice across their first two fixtures.
Spain sat top of the group on four points after two matches, while Saudi Arabia were fourth with one point. With the group still tight behind Spain, the draw kept Cabo Verde’s hopes alive and ensured Uruguay remained without a win after two games.
What they said
“I had dreamed of this, but I never imagined it would happen this way. Scoring my first goal for the national team on my World Cup debut is incredible. I have no words.” Helio Varela, Cabo Verde player
“I want to congratulate the team and all of our people for the way we played, with our hearts. We finished the match under a lot of difficulty, with many players already suffering from cramps. But our team was brave throughout, always looking to win the game, and that makes us very happy. We trust all of our players. We always make changes, and our team continues to approach matches with the desire to win and with good organization. We have to be pleased with what we achieved today.” Bubista, Cabo Verde coach
“When we defended well, the match allowed us to pull ahead. When we lost control of the game, that lead narrowed compared to our opponents. The decisive factor in the result was that we let our intensity drop, and that shouldn’t have happened.” Marcelo Bielsa, Uruguay coach
