Cape Verde continued their good run at the 2026 World Cup, holding Uruguay to a 2-2 draw at the Miami Stadium in the early hours of Monday.
The result leaves qualification from Group H finely poised, with both sides still firmly in contention for a place in the round of 32 ahead of the final round of group matches.
Uruguay entered the contest under pressure following a disappointing 1-1 draw against Saudi Arabia, while Cape Verde arrived buoyed by their shock goalless draw with Spain in their maiden World Cup appearance.
The African side made the brighter start and stunned the South Americans when Kevin Pina etched his name into Cape Verdean football history.
The midfielder curled a superb free-kick beyond the Uruguay wall to score Cape Verde’s first-ever goal at a FIFA World Cup, sending the sizeable contingent of Blue Sharks supporters into celebration.
Uruguay responded positively and gradually asserted control through Federico Valverde and Rodrigo Bentancur in midfield.
Their pressure paid off when Maximiliano Araujo reacted quickest inside the penalty area to convert a rebound and restore parity. The equaliser shifted momentum firmly in Uruguay’s favour as Marcelo Bielsa’s side intensified their attacks.
The South Americans completed the turnaround just before the interval.
Agustin Canobbio met a well-worked attacking move and finished clinically to put Uruguay 2-1 ahead heading into halftime.
Later in the day, Egypt defeated New Zealand 3-1 to earn their first-ever World Cup victory.
Goals from Mohammed Salah, Omar Marmoush and Mostafa Zikos gave the Pharaohs their inaugural three points in the competition’s history, despite being the first African country to play in the tournament in 1934.
