Cape Verde's Helio Varela (centre) celebrates with teammates after scoring his side’s second goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group H match against Uruguay. | Photo Credit: REUTERS

Cape Verde produced an impressive showing to hold Uruguay to a 2-2 draw in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group H match played at the Miami Stadium on Sunday.

Kevin Pina gave the debutant nation a surprise lead after his free kick made it through the Uruguayan wall and into the bottom right corner.

However, Uruguay scored twice in the closing stages of the first half, with Maxi Araujo and Agustin Canobbio finding the back of the net.

But Cape Verde was not done, as Helio Varela made use of a defensive error to bag his first international goal, just three minutes after being subbed on. A poor back pass from Mathias Olivera was intercepted by Varela, who touched the ball away from the advancing goalkeeper Fernando Muslera before dispatching the ball into an empty goal.

The result gives Cape Verde its second point of the campaign after it held European champion Spain to a goalless draw in its opener.

Uruguay vs Cape Verde player ratings

Published on Jun 22, 2026