Cape Verde score maiden World Cup goal as they hold Uruguay to draw

FootballSports
22 Jun 2026 • 9:21 AM MYT
DPA International
DPA International

DPA, founded in 1949, one of the world’s leading independent news agencies

Image from: Cape Verde score maiden World Cup goal as they hold Uruguay to draw
Cape Verde's Kevin Pina (C) celebrates scoring his side's first goal with teammates during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group H soccer match between Uruguay and Cape Verde at Hard Rock Stadium. Chris Urso/Tampa Bay Times/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

Debutants Cape Verde scored their first World Cup goals as they held two-time champions Uruguay to a 2-2 draw to claim another historic point on Sunday.

They had previously held European champions Spain to a goalless draw in their tournament opener last week.

But this time around it was even better as they also found the net for the first time in a World Cup.

Kevin Pina did the honours and scored Cape Verde's maiden World Cup goal to give them the lead in the 21st minute with a stunning free-kick from distance.

Uruguay hit back and Maxi Araújo levelled in the 44th, while Agustin Canobbio turned the game around shortly before the break.

But substitute Helio Varela needed just three minutes to help Cape Verde keep writing football history.

After a missed pass in Uruguay's half, Varela tapped the ball around goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, who was far off his line, before tapping it into the empty net in the 61st.

Spain top Group H after their 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia earlier. Uruguay are second but tied on two points with Cape Verde. The Saudi team sits bottom of the table with just one point.

Image from: Cape Verde score maiden World Cup goal as they hold Uruguay to draw
Uruguay's Maximiliano Araujo (C) celebrates scoring his side's first goal with teammates during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group H soccer match between Uruguay and Cape Verde at Hard Rock Stadium. Chris Urso/Tampa Bay Times/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa