Once again, Cape Verde has proven to be the surprise package of the 2026 World Cup. On Sunday, they secured a 2-2 draw against Uruguay at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, earning their second point in what is a historic World Cup debut, matching Uruguay in the standings.
The match kicked off with an unexpected twist. In the 21st minute, K. Lenini put the Africans ahead, challenging a Uruguayan side that controlled possession but lacked precision in the final third. The Uruguayans responded late in the first half; M. Araujo equalized in the 44th minute, and A. Canobbio turned the game around with a goal in the 45th, leaving Uruguay 2-1 up at halftime.
The second half took a different turn as Cape Verde's coach made strategic changes. At the 58th minute, two substitutions were made, and just three minutes later, newcomer H. Varela leveled the score with a goal that electrified the stadium.
Uruguay sought to regain the lead, but a potential third goal for Araujo was ruled out by VAR for offside in the 68th minute. The introductions of Darwin Núñez and Nicolás de la Cruz in the 70th minute failed to breach the resilient Cape Verdean defense, and the score remained unchanged until the final whistle.
The statistics highlighted Uruguay's dominance without reward: they held 66% possession, took 16 shots, and earned 11 corners compared to Cape Verde's seven shots and three corners. Nevertheless, both teams ended with two shots on target, underscoring the efficiency of the islanders despite their opponents' inaccuracies.
Following this result, Group H sees Spain leading with four points after their 4-0 victory over Saudi Arabia on the same day. Uruguay and Cape Verde are tied for second and third places with two points each, while Saudi Arabia is almost out of contention with just one point.
Cape Verde currently stands as the best third-placed team, keeping their hopes alive for advancing to the knockout stages. For the African team, who started their World Cup journey with a 0-0 draw against Spain on June 15, amassing four points in two unbeaten matches would have seemed unlikely before the tournament.
The final matches in Group H are set for June 26: Cape Verde will face Saudi Arabia at the NRG Stadium in Houston, while Uruguay will battle it out against Spain at the Estadio Akron.
Cape Verde's World Cup Journey
How has Cape Verde performed in their first World Cup?
Cape Verde has performed admirably in their World Cup debut, securing two draws against strong teams like Spain and Uruguay, demonstrating resilience and tactical prowess.
What are Cape Verde's chances of advancing to the knockout stage?
Cape Verde is currently positioned as the best third-placed team, maintaining realistic chances of progressing to the round of 16 if they continue their strong performance against Saudi Arabia.
What was the key to Cape Verde's draw against Uruguay?
The key to Cape Verde's success against Uruguay was their strategic substitutions and a goal from H. Varela, which helped them withstand Uruguay's pressure and secure a valuable point.