Cabo Verde Makes History with Draw Against Uruguay in World Cup 2026

Cabo Verde's Historic Performance

Miami [US], June 22: In a remarkable display, FIFA World Cup newcomers Cabo Verde managed to secure a 2-2 draw against two-time champions Uruguay during their match at Miami Stadium on June 21 (local time). This match saw Uruguayan goalkeeper Fernando Muslera (40 years and 5 days) and Cabo Verde's Vozinha (40 years and 18 days) become the first duo over 40 years old to start in a World Cup game.

Following the match, it was noted that substitutes have netted 23 goals in the tournament, marking the third-highest number of substitute goals in World Cup history since 1966, trailing only behind the tallies of 2014 (32) and 2022 (30), excluding own goals, according to statistics from Opta.

Cabo Verde has made a significant mark by being the first team since Senegal in 2002 to remain unbeaten in their first two World Cup matches (2 draws). Additionally, their record of just five fouls is the lowest by any team in their first two World Cup games since 1966.

In a historic moment, Cabo Verde scored their first-ever FIFA World Cup goal directly from a free-kick, which occurred with just their second shot on target in the tournament.

The milestone was achieved in the 21st minute when Kevin Pina executed a stunning long-range free-kick that found the back of the net, surprising Uruguay's goalkeeper Fernando Muslera and giving Cabo Verde an unexpected lead.

This result is a significant achievement for Cabo Verde in their inaugural FIFA World Cup journey, leaving Group H competitive as they head into the final matches. Currently, Spain tops the group with four points from two games, while Uruguay and Cabo Verde are tied with two points each, placing them second and third respectively.