Cape Verde moved to the brink of a historic place in the World Cup knockout stage after holding Uruguay to a 2-2 draw and continuing their remarkable debut campaign.
The tournament newcomers followed their shock goalless draw against Spain with another impressive display against the two-time world champions, leaving qualification for the round of 32 firmly within their reach.
With one group match remaining, Cape Verde know that victory against Saudi Arabia could secure one of the most memorable achievements in the country’s football history.
Underdogs continue to impress
Few expected Cape Verde to compete with established World Cup nations, but the island nation has refused to be overawed by the occasion.
After frustrating Spain in their opening match, they again demonstrated resilience and attacking quality against Uruguay.
Their breakthrough came through Kevin Pina, whose long-range free-kick found its way past goalkeeper Fernando Muslera to raise the roof at the Hard Rock Stadium.
Uruguay responded, but Cape Verde remained a threat throughout. Helio Varela restored parity after capitalising on a defensive error, calmly taking the ball around Muslera before finishing into an empty net.
Rather than settling for a draw, Cape Verde continued to push forward and created further problems for their more experienced opponents.
Saudi Arabia clash awaits
Cape Verde sit level on points with Uruguay heading into the final round of group fixtures and remain well positioned to progress under the expanded 48-team World Cup format.
A victory over Saudi Arabia would guarantee advancement to the round of 32, while other results could also work in their favour.
Having already avoided defeat against Spain and Uruguay, confidence is growing that Cape Verde can complete an extraordinary journey and become one of the standout stories of the 2026 World Cup.
