Uruguay vs Cabo Verde: Debutants Stun Uruguay Again, 2-2
Updated 21 June 2026.
Uruguay vs Cabo Verde at World Cup 2026 finished 2-2, Cabo Verde twice rescuing a point as Kevin Pina’s stunning free kick and Helio Varela’s second-half strike cancelled out goals from Maximiliano Araujo and Agustin Canobbio. A second remarkable draw in two games keeps the island debutants’ fairytale alive and dents Uruguay’s hopes of topping Group H.
| Match facts | Detail |
|---|---|
| Result | Uruguay 2-2 Cabo Verde |
| Competition | World Cup 2026, Group H |
| Venue | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami |
| Uruguay scorers | Araujo 44′, Canobbio 90+6′ |
| Cabo Verde scorers | Pina 21′, Varela 61′ |
| Half-time | Uruguay 1-1 Cabo Verde |
Uruguay vs Cabo Verde World Cup 2026: how it finished level
Cabo Verde refused to lose. Kevin Pina curled a stunning long-range free kick past the Uruguay goalkeeper on 21 minutes for the island nation’s first World Cup goal, and although Maximiliano Araujo levelled before half-time, Helio Varela restored parity on 61 minutes. Agustin Canobbio’s strike deep in stoppage time looked to have won it for Uruguay, but the final whistle confirmed a 2-2 draw that belonged to the underdogs.
Uruguay carried the greater pedigree and led twice in effect, yet could not shake off opponents ranked among the smallest nations ever to reach a World Cup. Cabo Verde, who had already held Spain to a goalless draw, backed up that result with another point against South American opposition. For a debutant side, four points from two games is the story of the group.
What it means for Group H
The draw leaves Cabo Verde unbeaten and right in the qualification picture, while Uruguay drop points they could ill afford after Spain’s earlier 4-0 win moved the favourites clear. NBC reported Cabo Verde stunning Uruguay 2-2 to continue their underdog run. With Spain top, the final round will decide the remaining places. Track the full table on our group standings tracker and the live standings page.
What is next
Both sides finish Group H in the final round, with kick-offs on our fixtures page and goals live on live scores. We previewed this one in our Uruguay vs Cabo Verde preview, revisit Uruguay’s opener in our Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay report and Cabo Verde’s in our Spain vs Cabo Verde report, and see the full schedule in our complete World Cup 2026 guide.
Frequently asked questions
What was the score in Uruguay vs Cabo Verde?
Uruguay and Cabo Verde drew 2-2 in their World Cup 2026 Group H match on 21 June at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, Cabo Verde twice coming from behind to earn a point.
Who scored for Cabo Verde against Uruguay?
Kevin Pina scored Cabo Verde’s first ever World Cup goal with a free kick on 21 minutes, and Helio Varela levelled again on 61 minutes for the 2-2 draw.
How many points do Cabo Verde have at World Cup 2026?
Cabo Verde have four points from two games, having drawn 0-0 with Spain and 2-2 with Uruguay, keeping the debutants in contention in Group H.
Sources: 2026 FIFA World Cup Group H, ESPN match page and the FIFA match centre.
