Two-time world champions Uruguay face one of the biggest surprise packages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup when they meet debutants Cape Verde tomorrow morning at 1:00 am, in Miami, with Group H qualification firmly up for grabs.
Uruguay were forced to settle for a point in their opening match after a late equaliser denied them victory against Saudi Arabia.
Marcelo Bielsa’s side struggled in the first half but improved significantly after the break, eventually finding a way back into the contest.
The 1-1 draw extended Uruguay’s impressive World Cup group-stage record, with just one defeat from their last nine group matches (W6, D2).
However, having failed to reach the knockout stages in Qatar in 2022, La Celeste know every point will be vital in a competitive group.
The pressure surrounding Bielsa’s tenure remains, but Uruguay will be encouraged by their strong historical record against African opposition, remaining unbeaten in five World Cup meetings (W4, D1).
Their opponents Cape Verde created one of the biggest stories of the tournament so far after holding European champions Spain to a 0-0 draw in their first-ever World Cup match.
The Blue Sharks produced a disciplined defensive display and could even have stolen all three points, with goalkeeper Vozinha producing a heroic performance to make seven saves and earn Player of the Match honours.
The result extended Cape Verde’s unbeaten run to four matches, with three consecutive clean sheets highlighting their defensive strength.
Although reaching the knockout stages remains a difficult challenge, Cape Verde have already shown they belong on football’s biggest stage and will enter this contest with belief.
This will be the first-ever meeting between the two nations.
Uruguay will look towards Maximiliano Araújo, whose late equaliser against Saudi Arabia continued his reputation for scoring important goals, while Cape Verde will rely on goalkeeper Vozinha after his outstanding debut.
Uruguay are expected to remain without Ronald Araújo and Giorgian De Arrascaeta, while Cape Verde will assess the fitness of winger Jovane Cabral.
