Overview
- Uruguay and Cabo Verde played to a 2-2 draw on Monday, leaving both teams on two points and putting Uruguay in a position where a win over Spain is required to guarantee advancement.
- Cabo Verde opened the scoring with Kevin Pina’s free kick after Uruguay’s defensive wall split, and the visitors levelled late in the second half after Mathías Olivera’s turnover led to an open-goal finish.
- Coach Marcelo Bielsa said he still believes Uruguay is the stronger team and defended the timing of his substitutions while admitting the side failed to maintain control during the match.
- Cabo Verde scored the first World Cup goal in its history and its coach Pedro Leitão Brito called the back-to-back draws against Spain and Uruguay proof that his team can dream of qualification.
- Group H’s final matches on June 26—Uruguay vs Spain in Guadalajara and Cabo Verde vs Saudi Arabia in Houston—will decide which teams reach the round of 16 and could determine whether Uruguay repeats its early exit from 2022 or Cabo Verde completes a historic first advance.