Cape Verde once again captured attention on the stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. After holding Spain to a goalless draw in their opening match, the African island nation managed to secure another impressive result by holding two-time world champions Uruguay to a 2-2 draw in a Group H match at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Monday morning, June 22, 2026.
The result gave Cape Verde a total of two points and kept their hopes of reaching the knockout stage alive in their debut World Cup appearance. Meanwhile, Uruguay are now under pressure and must secure a positive result against Spain in their final group-stage match on Saturday, June 27, 2026.
Cape Verde opened the scoring in the 21st minute through a free-kick goal from Kevin Pina. Marcelo Bielsa’s side equalized through Maximiliano Araujo in the 36th minute. Uruguay then took the lead just before halftime thanks to Agustin Canobbio.
However, Cape Verde fought back in the 68th minute through a goal from substitute Helio Varela.
For Cape Verde, the result extended their remarkable story in the world’s most prestigious football tournament. In their first two matches, the team ranked 59th in the world managed to earn points against two former FIFA World Cup champions, Spain and Uruguay.
Veteran Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha once again played a crucial role in the team’s positive result.
“This is a dream come true for us and for all the people of Cape Verde. What I saw on the pitch today was a strong team with a very positive attitude,” said Vozinha.
Meanwhile, the Uruguayan camp expressed disappointment after once again failing to secure all three points. Uruguay defender Sebastian Caceres said the team lacked sharpness at key moments.
“We hoped to win this match to make things more comfortable heading into the final game. But we lacked precision, and that cost us. Now we must focus on winning the next match,” he said.
Spain Answer the Doubts
In the other Group H match, Spain responded emphatically to the doubts that emerged following their disappointing result in the opening game. The European champions produced a dominant performance to crush Saudi Arabia 4-0.
The return of Lamine Yamal to the starting lineup brought a different dimension to the team coached by Luis de la Fuente.
Spain’s dominance resulted in an early opening goal when Yamal converted a powerful cross from Mikel Oyarzabal at the far post in the 10th minute.
Oyarzabal emerged as the star of the match by scoring twice in the 21st and 24th minutes. The fourth goal came through an own goal by Hassan Al Tambakti in the 49th minute.
Oyarzabal’s performance answered criticism directed at him after an underwhelming display against Cape Verde. In addition to scoring two goals, he also provided the assist for Yamal’s opening goal.
Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente expressed satisfaction with his players’ response after receiving significant criticism. This time, he believed his squad displayed the right footballing character.
“Doubting this team is madness. We are unbeaten in 33 consecutive matches. There are better days and worse days, but questioning this generation of players is, in my opinion, unfair,” he said.
The 65-year-old coach also eased concerns about Yamal’s condition after the young star was substituted early. The decision was made to preserve the player’s fitness for the next match.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia head coach Georgios Donis admitted that his team made too many mistakes while dealing with Spain’s pressure. After conceding three goals in a short period, he believed his players’ confidence dropped significantly.***
