Cape Verde make World Cup history with draw against Uruguay
The African side took an early lead before Uruguay fought back to turn the game around and move ahead.
KATHMANDU: Cape Verde produced one of the biggest surprises of the FIFA World Cup 2026, holding two-time world champions Uruguay to a thrilling 2-2 draw and scoring their first-ever goal in World Cup history.
In the Group H clash at Miami Stadium in Florida, the African nation once again impressed on the global stage after previously earning a draw against Spain.
Cape Verde took the lead in the 21st minute when Kevin Pina found the net, marking the country’s first goal at a FIFA World Cup. The historic strike sparked emotional celebrations among players and supporters alike.
Uruguay responded strongly before halftime. Maxi Araujo equalized in the 44th minute, and Agustin Canobbio put the South Americans ahead in first-half stoppage time to give Uruguay a 2-1 lead at the break.
However, Cape Verde refused to back down. In the 61st minute, Helio Varela capitalized on a defensive misunderstanding between Uruguay’s defenders and goalkeeper to score the equalizer.
Both teams created further chances in an entertaining second half, but neither side could find a winner as the match ended 2-2.
For Cape Verde, the result was about much more than a single point. The nation celebrated its first World Cup goal and another remarkable performance against one of football’s traditional powers, reinforcing its status as one of the tournament’s surprise packages.
The draw leaves Uruguay and Cape Verde level on two points from two matches in Group H. Spain lead the group with four points, while Saudi Arabia have one point.
With the race for the knockout stage still wide open, the final round of group matches will be decisive. Cape Verde will face Saudi Arabia on June 27, aiming to continue their historic World Cup journey and keep their hopes of reaching the knockout stage alive.
