Uruguay held by debutant Cabo Verde as Group H tightens

Uruguay could not turn its pedigree into pressure, and that was the real story of the 2-2 draw with debutant Cabo Verde in Miami. For Marcelo Bielsa’s side, the result extended an uneasy opening to Group H; for Cabo Verde, it felt like another step in a run that is quickly rewriting expectations.

The contrast with Cabo Verde’s earlier campaign could not have been sharper. Six days earlier in Atlanta, the island nation held Spain 0-0 to collect its first point in a FIFA World Cup, a result that already stood among the tournament’s shocks. Uruguay arrived in Miami having drawn 1-1 with Saudi Arabia at the same stadium on June 15, and the latest stalemate left the four teams in Group H level after the opening results.

Cabo Verde again looked compact and disciplined, with Kevin Pina’s free-kick and an opportunistic Helio Varela goal enough to secure the point. FIFA had described the debutants as “superbly organised from back to front” against Spain, and that structure was visible again as Bubista’s team absorbed Uruguay’s spells of possession and resisted sustained pressure from Ronald Araújo, Nicolás De la Cruz and their teammates.

The match also produced a notable slice of World Cup history. Fernando Muslera and Vozinha became the first two goalkeepers older than 40 to start a match at the finals, a marker that underlined both the experience in the Uruguay goal and the maturity Cabo Verde has brought to its first World Cup appearance.

For Uruguay, the draw kept alive a familiar tactical question for Bielsa: how best to use Federico Valverde. FIFA had highlighted that Uruguay looked more controlled, forceful and threatening when Valverde shifted into midfield against Saudi Arabia, and that same issue hovered over Miami as Uruguay searched for a sharper attacking rhythm without finding one that could separate them from a debutant side of just over 500,000 people.

Cabo Verde left with satisfaction and momentum, having taken points from Spain and Uruguay in its first two World Cup matches. Uruguay left with frustration, still waiting to impose itself on a group that has tightened into a genuine fight from the opening whistle.