Cape Verde face Saudi Arabia in their final group match.
Miami, United States (Running Africa) — Cape Verde continued their impressive 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Uruguay in Miami on Sunday, strengthening their chances of reaching the knockout stage and further establishing themselves as one of the tournament’s surprise packages.
The result follows an equally impressive 0-0 draw against Spain in their opening match, meaning the Blue Sharks remain unbeaten after two group-stage fixtures against two former world champions.
For a nation of just over 525,000 people spread across ten Atlantic islands, Cape Verde’s performances have captured attention far beyond Africa. Taking points from both Spain and Uruguay has placed the island nation in a strong position heading into the final round of group-stage matches.
Against Uruguay, Cape Verde delivered a confident and disciplined display, showing greater attacking intent while remaining organized defensively. The Blue Sharks created several scoring opportunities and limited the South Americans to just two shots on target, demonstrating the tactical maturity that has defined their tournament so far.
Veteran goalkeeper Vozinha, whose heroics against Spain earned global praise, enjoyed a quieter evening as Cape Verde’s defensive unit effectively neutralized much of Uruguay’s attacking threat.
There was also a special moment off the pitch. Vozinha’s mother was in attendance in Miami after missing Cape Verde’s opening match due to visa delays, providing an emotional backdrop to another memorable performance by the tournament underdogs.
With two valuable points from their opening matches, Cape Verde now turn their attention to a decisive final group-stage clash against Saudi Arabia. A positive result could secure a historic place in the Round of 32 and mark one of the greatest achievements in the country’s football history.
As the World Cup progresses, Cape Verde continues to demonstrate that determination, organization, and belief can help even the smallest nations compete with football’s biggest powers.
