The 2026 FIFA World Cup has delivered one of its biggest thrills yet in Group H. In a packed Miami Stadium in Florida, debutants Cape Verde pulled off another monumental upset by holding powerhouse Uruguay to a dramatic 2-2 draw in their second group-stage match.
The match began with a shockwave in the 21st minute. Cape Verde’s Kevin Pina scored a breathtaking, long-range free kick that flew past Uruguayan goalkeeper Fernando Muslera. This goal marked a historic milestone, being Cape Verde’s first-ever goal in a World Cup tournament.
Uruguay responded with fierce intensity before the break. Maximiliano Araújo equalized with a brilliant header in the 44th minute. Just moments later, deep into first-half stoppage time (45+6'), AgustÃn Canobio clinical finish put the South American giants ahead, turning the game around 2-1 before halftime.
However, Cape Verde’s resilience shone through in the second half. In the 61st minute, a catastrophic defensive misunderstanding between Uruguay's MathÃas Olivera and Muslera allowed substitute Hélier Varela to steal the ball, round the keeper, and slot it into an empty net to level the score at 2-2.
Uruguay pushed aggressively for a late winner and even found the back of the net in the dying minutes, but the goal was ruled out for offside after a tense VAR review. With this result, Cape Verde—who previously drew with Spain—continues its fairytale run, leaving Group H completely wide open ahead of the final round of matches.
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