Cape Verde's Cinderella World Cup run stays intact with draw against Uruguay

Cape Verde’s dream tally successful nan 2026 FIFA World Cup continued connected Sunday arsenic nan squad came to a 2-2 tie against Uruguay.

The state is 1 of nan smallest successful nan 48-team tournament, making their debut. The squad was fixed 1 of nan toughest draws successful nan arena pinch Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia successful Group H. But nan state sewage done its 2 toughest opponents pinch draws.

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Cape Verde's Diney Borges and Uruguay's Brian Rodriguez compete for nan shot during nan World Cup Group H lucifer successful Miami Gardens, Fla., connected June 21, 2026. (Rebecca Blackwell/AP)

Cape Verde wasn’t capable to people successful their World Cup debut against Spain, but recovered nan backmost of nan nett doubly against Uruguay. Kevin Pina scored connected a free footwear and Helio Varela scored nan equalizer. The tie inched Cape Verde person to nan knockout stage.

"This is thing we beryllium to different smaller nationalist teams — teams that struggled to suffice for a world tournament," Cape Verde coach Pedro Leitão said done an interpreter.

Cape Verde now has 2 points.

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Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha celebrates astatine nan extremity of nan World Cup Group H lucifer against Uruguay successful Miami Gardens, Fla., connected June 21, 2026. (Lynne Sladky/AP)

"We’re besides present to show that a state whitethorn beryllium small, whitethorn struggle financially, but if they are resilient, if they tin strengthen struggle, they tin besides guidelines enarthrosis to enarthrosis pinch different awesome teams and pinch players who are connected different level," nan coach added.

Uruguay took a 2-1 lead aft Maxi Arújo and Agustin Canobbio put their shots into nan backmost of nan net. But it was Varela who nailed nan game-tying extremity minutes aft joining nan game.

"I dreamed of this," he said. "But I ne'er imagined it would hap this way. Scoring my first extremity for nan nationalist squad connected my World Cup debut is incredible. I person nary words."

Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha reacts astatine nan extremity of nan World Cup Group H shot lucifer betwixt Uruguay and Cape Verde successful Miami Gardens, Fla., connected June 21, 2026. (Lynne Sladky/AP)

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Cape Verde has a chance to get into the World Cup's Round of 32 connected Friday should they prime up a triumph complete Saudi Arabia. Spain will return connected Uruguay.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.