World Cup 2026: Kevin Pina Screamer Earns Cape Verde Shock Draw vs Uruguay

Uruguay held to a draw by Cape Verde as World Cup hopes hit

World Cup 2026 Group H: Cape Verde drew 2-2 with Uruguay after Kevin Pina’s historic first WC goal and Helio Varela’s strike. Bubista’s side stay unbeaten in 5 and eye knockout stages.

Cape Verde continue Fairytale with draw against Uruguay. Cape Verde stun Uruguay...

Cape Verde stunned again with a 2-2 draw against Uruguay in their FIFA World Cup Group H clash. The result stretches the Blue Sharks’ unbeaten streak to five matches, with 3 wins and 2 draws.

Both teams drew their openers, but Cape Verde had the higher spirits after holding Spain last time out. Uruguay needed a lift following their flat 1-1 draw with Saudi Arabia. They created the first real opening when Agustín Canobbio set up Federico Valverde, but he fired wide from a tight angle.

Then came a historic moment for Cape Verde football.

Kevin Pina stepped up for a free-kick from distance and let fly. His shot blasted through Uruguay’s two-man wall and beat a stunned Fernando Muslera. It was Cape Verde’s first ever goal at a World Cup finals, and it sent the stands into chaos while leaving Uruguay stunned.

But Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay flipped the match before half-time. Maximiliano Araujo pounced fastest to head in the rebound after Sidny Lopes Cabral’s attempted clearance crashed off the post.

La Celeste then took the lead in first-half stoppage time. Araújo met Manuel Ugarte’s cross with a header and flicked it into the path of Agustín Canobbio, who finished from close range.

Uruguay looked to push on after the break, but Cape Verde hit back following a defensive mistake. Mathias Olivera’s pass was cut out by Helio Varela, who rounded a stranded Fernando Muslera and calmly slotted into an empty net for his first international goal.

The two-time World Cup winners looked shaken. Jamiro Monteiro nearly made it 3-1 with a long-range effort that skimmed the top of the net. The game nearly swung again when Araujo tapped in after a Vozinha error, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

Cape Verde held on for a hard-fought point. They now turn to Saudi Arabia with real belief of reaching the knockout stage, while Uruguay face Saudi Arabia knowing only a win will keep their World Cup hopes alive.