Uruguay and Cape Verde draw 2-2 to keep Group H alive
Lenini and Varela cancel out Araújo and Canobbio in Miami; La Celeste drop two points and lose ground in the race for top spot.
Uruguay and Cape Verde drew 2-2 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, in a second-round Group H match at the 2026 World Cup that did not disappoint. La Celeste dropped two points that complicate their bid for top spot in a four-goal clash that kept the tension alive until the end.
Cape Verde, one of the surprises of the tournament, struck first. Kevin Lenini put the Africans ahead in the 21st minute and forced a response from a Uruguay side struggling to find their rhythm. La Celeste's reply came late in the first half: Maximiliano Araújo levelled in the 44th and, deep in stoppage time, Agustín Canobbio completed the turnaround in the 45+6 to send Uruguay into the break 2-1 up.
But the game still had another twist. In the 61st minute, Hélio Varela made it 2-2 and restored parity on a scoreline that would not change again. Uruguay thought they had won it in the 69th, but VAR ruled out an Araújo goal, leaving La Celeste with the feeling of two points lost.
With the draw, Uruguay and Cape Verde are on two points apiece, both trailing Spain, who had thrashed Saudi Arabia shortly before to move clear at the top of the group on four. Saudi Arabia sit bottom on a single point.
Everything will be settled on the final matchday: Uruguay visit Spain at the Estadio Akron in Zapopan in a clash for top spot, while Cape Verde play for their lives against Saudi Arabia at Houston's NRG Stadium.