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FLORIDA, USA - JUNE 21: Federico Valverde of Uruguay reacts during the 2026 FIFA World Cup First Stage Group H match between Uruguay and Cape Verde at the Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Stadium) in Miami Gardens, Florida, United States on June 21, 2026. (Photo by Evrim Aydin/Anadolu via Getty Images) | Anadolu via Getty Images
Uruguay faced Cape Verde on Sunday in Miami knowing a win for either would go a long way towards progressing to the knockout stages at the World Cup. Instead a 2-2 draw means both still have work to do this week to advance in the tournament. Uruguay will feel they let this one slip away after giving up goals due to defensive mistakes and having generated 2.32 expected goals compared to 0.88 expected goals from Cape Verde.
Cape Verde made history in the 21st minute as Kevin Pina’s free kick from approximately 30 yards is the country’s first goal at a World Cup. The shot made its way through a badly constructed two-man wall and past Uruguayan veteran goalkeeper Fernando Muslera.
The Uruguayans recovered to take the lead before half-time as Fede Valverde cross into the box in the 44th minute almost turned into an own-goal, glancing off a Cape Verde defender’s head and onto the goalkeeper’s left goalpost before being pounced on and headed in by Sporting left winger Maximiliano Araújo. That was followed by Manchester United defensive midfielder Manuel Ugarte’s cross into the box in the 6th minute of stoppage time that Araújo headed onto Agustín Canobbio, Canobbio finalizing the scoring chance to give Uruguay a 2-1 lead at the half.
Cape Verde tied the score in the 61st minute through an assortment of Uruguayan miscues as centre-back Mathías Olivera sent a careless back pass following a throw-in that Cape Verde’s Hélio Varela intercepted and struck first time into an open net, Muslera having come out of the penalty box in a futile attempt to reach the ball first. Varela found a most opportune time to score his first goal with the Cape Verde jersey. Representing a nation of slightly more than half a million people, Cape Verde continues to be one of the big revelations at this World Cup, having now drawn against two past World Cup champions in Spain and Uruguay.
Fede Valverde played in a more advanced role than he typically does at Madrid, positioning himself behind the centre-forward. The Uruguayan captain had two successful dribbles and attempted 7 shots, 3 that were blocked, none of which found their way to the Cape Verde keeper. The Real Madrid midfielder completed 50 of 62 passes (81%), including a game-high 18 passes into the final third, but none led directly to a shot attempt for a teammate, albeit Valverde’s cross was what initiated the first goal for Uruguay.
Uruguay closes out the group phase against Spain Friday evening in Guadalajara, Mexico while Cape Verde faces Saudi Arabia at the same time in Houston.
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