Cape Verde continued its unexpected emergence at the 2026 World Cup by securing a 2-2 draw against Uruguay on Sunday in Miami Gardens, Florida. The small island nation, making its tournament debut, followed up a shockless 0-0 draw against Spain with another resilient performance against the two-time World Cup champions.

Kevin Pina scored Cape Verde’s first-ever World Cup goal with a well-placed free kick in the 21st minute, giving the underdogs an early lead. However, Uruguay responded before halftime with goals from Maxi Araújo and Agustin Canobbio, putting the South American side ahead 2-1. In the second half, Helio Varela, who had just entered the match, capitalized on a defensive error to score the equalizer, slotting the ball into an empty net and leveling the score.

Cape Verde coach Pedro Leitão Brito highlighted the significance of the team’s performance for smaller, less financially endowed footballing nations. “We’re also here to show that a country may be small, may struggle financially, but if they are resilient, if they can endure struggle, they can also stand shoulder to shoulder with other major teams and with players who are on another level,” Brito said through an interpreter. The island nation, with a population of approximately half a million and a landmass of about 1.5 square miles, is now seen as a legitimate contender to advance to the knockout round of the expanded 48-team tournament.

Uruguay, unable to convert several late chances and finish their attacks, remains in a precarious position in Group H alongside Cape Verde with two points each. The outcome leaves Uruguay needing a positive result in their upcoming match against Spain to keep knockout hopes alive. Meanwhile, Cape Verde will face Saudi Arabia in their final group game.

The match was played before a largely Uruguay-supporting crowd at Miami Stadium, yet Cape Verde’s players remained unfazed. Their goalkeeper, Vozinha, who earned praise for his standout performances, had the added encouragement of his mother in attendance for the first time after missing the prior game against Spain. The resilient display has made Cape Verde one of the tournament’s most talked-about teams.

Elsewhere in the tournament, Spain recovered from their opening draw to Saudi Arabia with a commanding 4-0 victory, powered by 18-year-old forward Lamine Yamal. The Barcelona player scored early in his first World Cup start, easing pressure on the European champions. Japan secured a 4-0 win over Tunisia in Monterrey, Mexico, their largest World Cup margin ever, bolstering their position in Group F.

In a tense encounter in Inglewood, California, Iran and Belgium played to a goalless draw. Iranian goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand made several crucial saves to keep the match scoreless despite Belgium’s numerical advantage after a player was sent off. Belgium continues to struggle offensively, having failed to score on 69 consecutive shots in World Cup matches dating back to 2018.

Finally, Egypt recorded its first World Cup win by defeating New Zealand 3-1 in Vancouver. Mohamed Salah scored the decisive goal and was honored with a standing ovation upon his substitution. Egypt currently tops Group G but must secure at least a draw against Iran in their final group fixture to advance.

As the group stages continue, these results highlight the unpredictability and competitive spirit shaping the expanded tournament.