Cape Verde continued its remarkable debut at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Sunday, holding two-time champions Uruguay to a thrilling 2-2 draw and positioning itself as a serious contender for the knockout stage.
Kevin Pina opened the scoring for the Blue Sharks in the 21st minute with a stunning 30-yard free-kick — the island nation's first-ever World Cup goal — that arrowed through Uruguay's wall past goalkeeper Fernando Muslera. Uruguay fought back before halftime, with Maxi Araújo equalising in the 44th minute and AgustÃn Canobbio putting the South Americans ahead in first-half stoppage time.
Hélio Varela, introduced as a substitute, levelled the match in the 61st minute, capitalising on a defensive lapse to score his first international goal and secure a point. Cape Verde's resilient defence limited Uruguay to few clear chances despite the latter's pressure.
This result follows Cape Verde's shock 0-0 draw against Spain in their opening match, marking them as the first debutants unbeaten in their first two World Cup games since Senegal in 2002. The archipelago nation of about 525,000 people now sits level on points with Uruguay in Group H.
Cape Verde showed attacking intent from the outset and defensive steel to hold on, outshooting Uruguay in the second half. Goalkeeper Vozinha, whose popularity surged after the Spain match, was solid once more.
With three group games for most teams in the expanded 48-team format, the top two advance automatically while eight of the 12 best third-placed sides also progress. A strong result against Saudi Arabia in their final group match could see Cape Verde make history by reaching the round of 32.
The performance has captivated fans and pundits alike. Cape Verde's blend of creativity, confidence, and determination embodies classic World Cup underdog magic.