Cape Verde snatch dramatic draw with Uruguay to keep World Cup knockout dream alive

Cape Verde produced another stunning result at the 2026 World Cup on Sunday, coming from behind to draw 2-2 with Uruguay and record their first-ever goal in the tournament, leaving the tiny island nation with a genuine chance of reaching the knockout stage.

Kevin Pina opened the scoring with a free-kick in the 21st minute, blasting past goalkeeper Fernando Muslera to write his name into Cape Verdean football history. Uruguay hit back through Maxi Araújo and Agustin Canobbio, who scored in quick succession late in the first half to put the South Americans ahead. But substitute Helio Varela, minutes after coming on, caught Muslera off his line to level in the second half — his first international goal — and send Cape Verdean supporters into raptures once more.

The result follows Cape Verde’s scoreless draw with tournament favourite Spain last week, a result that immediately announced the debutants as one of the most surprising stories of the expanded 48-team tournament. With two points from their opening two matches, the Blue Sharks now have a legitimate path into the knockout rounds.

Varela’s equaliser sparked jubilant scenes on the pitch, the goalscorer leaping into his teammates’ arms and flexing atop their shoulders as Muslera and his Uruguay colleagues stood in visible disappointment.

The match also produced a notable statistical footnote: it was the first World Cup game in history to feature two starting goalkeepers aged 40 or older. Muslera, making his 18th World Cup appearance, turned 40 on 16 June, while Cape Verde’s Vozinha — already one of the tournament’s breakout stars after his performance against Spain — also started between the posts at 40 years old.

Vozinha had an added personal dimension to the occasion. His mother was present in the stands for the Uruguay match after being unable to attend the Spain game due to a visa issue — and she witnessed her son help make more history for their nation.

Reporting by the Associated Press.