Written by Megan Taylor, sports reporter covering international sports since 2020

Uruguay vs Cape Verde ended in a damaging World Cup draw for Uruguay national football team, leaving Marcelo Bielsa’s side at risk of missing the knockout stage after another frustrating group match.

Uruguay were already under pressure after narrowly avoiding defeat against Saudi Arabia national football team in Miami, and the draw with Cape Verde national football team at Hard Rock Stadium left their campaign uncertain. The result matters because Uruguay now face Spain national football team on Friday with their last-32 hopes still hanging in the balance.

For more World Cup coverage, read Iran World Cup Team Sends Peace Message After Los Angeles Group Matches, while official tournament details are available through the FIFA World Cup 2026 page.

Uruguay Let Lead Slip

Cape Verde national football team struck first before Uruguay found a response through Maximiliano Araújo.

Agustín Canobbio then put Uruguay ahead before halftime after latching onto Araújo’s knockdown. It looked like Bielsa’s side had finally found control, but their finishing and second-half game management again came under scrutiny.

“I think that the problem or greatest issue is that we started the second half with the ball and with the victory,” Bielsa said.

“We lacked a finishing touch,” he added.

Cape Verde Punish Late Error

Cape Verde’s equaliser came after Mathías Olivera’s misplaced pass gave Hélio Varela the chance to attack space.

Varela rounded Fernando Muslera and finished calmly, turning Uruguay’s lead into another worrying draw. Cape Verde coach Bubista was unhappy with the build-up to Uruguay’s earlier equaliser.

“I was upset by that,” he said.

“Bielsa taught us to have fair play. That’s in his press conferences, that’s in the matches that his teams play.”

Canobbio later missed a chance to win it for Uruguay, leaving the mood around Bielsa’s squad tense before the Spain test.

“We’ve got to face up to the bullets,” Canobbio said.

Luis Suárez watched from a suite after making himself available before the tournament, but Uruguay again lacked the clinical edge that once defined their attack.