Araújo heads Uruguay level against Cabo Verde at World Cup in Miami

Maximiliano Araújo changed the mood in an instant in Miami. Just before halftime, a Uruguay effort clanged off the post and Araújo reacted first, throwing himself into a diving header to force the ball over the line and pull Uruguay level with Cabo Verde in Group H.

The goal carried weight beyond the scoreline. It was Araújo’s second goal of the tournament, and it arrived at the exact moment Uruguay needed a lift after a first half that had threatened to stall. The rebound off the post left Cabo Verde briefly exposed, and Araújo’s sharp movement turned a half-chance into a decisive emotional swing for Uruguay.

The match was played Sunday, June 21, 2026, at Miami Stadium and marked Uruguay’s second outing in the group stage. Cabo Verde entered the game with momentum of its own after making history in its World Cup debut and earning a 0-0 draw with Spain in its opening match, a result that underscored how difficult Bubista’s side could be to break down.

Uruguay had already seen Araújo deliver once in Miami. In its opening Group H match against Arabia Saudita, Uruguay drew 1-1, with Araújo scoring late to cancel out Abdulelah Al Amri’s first-half strike. That earlier equalizer set the tone for his role in this campaign: a forward who keeps arriving in the right place when Uruguay need a response.

For Uruguay, the meeting with Cabo Verde was also a checkpoint in a demanding group. The official FIFA schedule now sends the Celeste to face Spain on June 27 in Guadalajara, a fixture that will help define the shape of Group H. Before that, Araújo’s instinctive finish in Miami gave Uruguay a timely answer and reminded both sides that persistence can turn a broken sequence into a defining moment.