Kevin Pina’s free-kick and an opportunistic Helio Varela goal earned Cabo Verde a shock 2-2 draw with Uruguay at the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Uruguay 2-2 Cabo Verde
Uruguay goals: Araujo (44), Canobbio (45+6) Cabo Verde goals: Pina (21), Varela (61)
Little Cabo Verde registered another giant draw with a former FIFA World Cup™ winner. After finishing goalless with Spain, Bubista’s team recovered a half-time deficit to hold Uruguay at Miami Stadium. Cabo Verde took a shock lead when Telmo Arcanjo earned a free-kick and, from 34 yards, Kevin Pina fired it through a gap in the wall and into the bottom corner.
Uruguay nevertheless swung the contest in their favour with quick-fire goals before the break. Maxi Araujo stooped to nod the ball home after Rodrigo Bentancur’s header came back off the post, before Agustin Canobbio cushioned Araujo’s knock-down past Vozinha. Bubista’s side were gifted an equaliser when Varela capitalised upon a defensive mix-up and slotted home. It was all Uruguay thereafter but, with the legendary Luis Suarez cheering them on from the stands, they were unable to break down a defence marshalled masterfully by Pico Lopes and Sidny Lopes Cabral.
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Group H
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P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | TCS | Pts | Form | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
 Spain
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | -1 | 4 |
–
–
–
|
|
| 2 |
 Uruguay
|
2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | -2 | 2 |
–
–
–
|
|
| 3 |
 Cabo Verde
|
2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | -3 | 2 |
–
–
–
|
|
| 4 |
 Saudi Arabia
|
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | -4 | -3 | 1 |
–
–
–
|
|
Key stat
Uruguay’s Fernando Muslera and Vozinha of Cabo Verde ensured that two goalkeepers in their 40s started a World Cup game for the first time ever.
Michelob Ultra Superior Player of the Match
Kevin Pina (Cabo Verde)
What they said…
“I had dreamed of this, but I never imagined it would happen this way. Scoring my first goal for the national team on my World Cup debut is incredible. I have no words.” Helio Varela, Cabo Verde player
“I want to congratulate the team and all of our people for the way we played, with our hearts. We finished the match under a lot of difficulty, with many players already suffering from cramps. But our team was brave throughout, always looking to win the game, and that makes us very happy. We trust all of our players. We always make changes, and our team continues to approach matches with the desire to win and with good organization. We have to be pleased with what we achieved today.” Bubista, Cabo Verde coach
“When we defended well, the match allowed us to pull ahead. When we lost control of the game, that lead narrowed compared to our opponents. The decisive factor in the result was that we let our intensity drop, and that shouldn’t have happened.” Marcelo Bielsa, Uruguay coach
