On the evening of June 21st, in the second round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage for Group H, the match between Cape Verde and Uruguay took place at the Miami Stadium in the United States.
Cape Verde, an unknown African island nation, made its World Cup debut this year, and in the first round of group stage matches, they surprisingly held the tournament favorite and second-ranked team in the world, Spain, to a draw. This unexpected result made them a sensation and surprised the world. Especially the 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha, who faced relentless attacks from the Spanish team and managed to save seven threatening shots, keeping a clean sheet and becoming the hero of the team.
The second match of Cape Verde attracted tens of thousands of fans to watch live at the stadium. Facing a strong South American opponent, can they continue their legendary journey?
In the 19th minute, Cape Verde was awarded a free-kick in the opponent’s half. Number 6, Kevin Pina, took a strong low shot directly, threading the ball through a gap between two Uruguayan defenders, into the bottom right corner of the goal, leaving the Uruguayan goalkeeper with no chance. This marked Cape Verde’s first-ever goal in World Cup history.
In the 43rd minute, Uruguay equalized. They broke through from the left side and lofted the ball into Cape Verde’s penalty area. In the ensuing scramble, the ball was headed towards the goal post, where Cape Verde’s goalkeeper made a diving save. The ball fell to Uruguay’s number 20, Maximiliano ARAUJO, who calmly tapped it into the net.
Just two minutes later, Uruguay orchestrated another effective attack, with two quick passes leading to forward Agustin CANOBBIO (#14) slotting the ball into the net from the bottom right corner.
In the first half, both teams showed aggressive play, with each receiving a yellow card. Uruguay had more shot attempts than Cape Verde, but their shooting accuracy and success rate were low, leading to missed opportunities.
In the 61st minute, Uruguay had a throw-in near the midfield, but Cape Verde’s #26, Hélio Varela, intercepted the pass. With the Uruguayan goalkeeper out of position, Varela seized the chance and slotted the ball into the net.
The score was leveled once again, 2-2.
Cape Verde’s goalkeeper Vozinha’s mother, Ana Candida Evora, was present in the stands. After receiving a visa from the US government, she rushed from Cape Verde to Miami to watch her son’s match. Witnessing Cape Verde score and equalize, Ana Candida Evora jubilantly danced in celebration.
Currently ranked 67th in the world, with a total team value of approximately 54.5 million euros, most of the Cape Verde players ply their trade in the Portuguese top league or lower-tier European leagues. Lacking star power from the top five leagues, they are at a technical and physical disadvantage compared to their opponents but have a solid defensive system. In the previous match, Cape Verde committed only one foul, setting a record for the fewest fouls in a World Cup match since 1966.
After the draw against Spain, Cape Verde earned their first World Cup point in history, boosting team morale and defensive confidence. With a fully fit squad, a robust defensive framework, and ample physical reserves, their attacking options remain limited, primarily relying on counter-attacks and set pieces to threaten, with limited abilities in positional attacks.
Uruguay, ranked 16th in the world with a squad value of around 360 million euros, is a traditional powerhouse in South American football. Their spine is filled with key players from top European clubs, including midfielder Federico Valverde from Real Madrid, known for his all-rounded skills and tactical importance to the team.
In the previous group stage match against Saudi Arabia, Uruguay dominated possession, with a ball possession rate exceeding 70% and nearly 30 shot attempts. However, their poor finishing in front of goal resulted in a 1-1 draw. Therefore, they must defeat Cape Verde in this match to have a chance of advancing from the group stage.
Uruguay won the inaugural World Cup in 1930 and the 1950 World Cup, but since the 21st century, their best performance was reaching the semi-finals in 2010. In recent tournaments, they have mostly been eliminated in the Round of 16 or quarter-finals. In the previous 2022 Qatar World Cup, Uruguay failed to advance from the group stage.