Cape Verde holds Uruguay in World Cup thriller

Cape Verde continued its captivating FIFA World Cup debut by holding Uruguay to a 2-2 draw Sunday in Group H play at Miami Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Helio Valera scored the equalizer in the 61st minute after chasing down a loose ball and beating Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera to tie the match at 2-2.

Kevin Pina scored Cape Verde’s first World Cup goal in the 21st minute.

Pina struck from more than 30 yards after Uruguay’s Rodrigo Bentancur drew a yellow card for a trip outside the box.

Uruguay answered in the 44th minute when Maxi Araujo converted a diving header after Bentancur’s header hit the right post.

Uruguay took a 2-1 lead in the sixth minute of first-half stoppage time after Manuel Ugarte began the sequence with a cross, Araujo headed the ball to Agustin Canobbio, and Canobbio tapped in past Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha.

Cape Verde found its way back after Mathias Olivera sent a loose left-footed pass in Uruguay’s end and Muslera rushed out of the box.

Valera won the race, went past Muslera, and finished into an open net.

Uruguay had two late chances to win the match.

Federico Valverde sent a right-footed free kick over the right corner of the net in the 90th minute.

Canobbio then made a run in the third minute of second-half stoppage time but blasted over the net.

Uruguay outshot Cape Verde, 17-12, but Cape Verde placed four shots on target compared with Uruguay’s two.

Cape Verde, playing in its first World Cup, moved to 0-0-2 with two points.

Uruguay also stood at 0-0-2 with two points.

Both teams remain in contention to advance from Group H.

Uruguay will face first-place Spain, which has four points on a 1-0-1 record, on Friday outside Guadalajara, Mexico.

Cape Verde will play Saudi Arabia, which has one point on a 0-1-1 record, on Friday in Houston.

In Group G, Iran stayed alive after battling Belgium to a 0-0 draw at Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood, California.

Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand made seven saves to secure his second clean sheet in his seventh appearance across three World Cups.

Beiranvand, 33, also had six saves in Iran’s opening 2-2 draw against New Zealand.

Iran gained a man advantage in the 66th minute after Belgium’s Nathan Ngoy was sent off for dragging down an Iranian attacker following a poorly weighted back pass that created a goal-scoring opportunity.

Belgium still controlled 68% of possession despite playing with 10 men for the final 30 minutes.

Belgium outshot Iran, 7-3, in shots on target and out-passed Iran, 608-269.

Beiranvand delivered one of the match’s biggest stops in the 86th minute, diving to deny Maxim De Cuyper, who finished with five shot attempts.

Belgium and Iran each have two points through two Group G matches.

Both teams can still advance with wins on the final matchday on June 26.

Belgium will face New Zealand in Vancouver.

Iran will simultaneously take on Egypt in Seattle.

Iran appeared to score in the 25th minute when Mehdi Taremi sent a slow-rolling set-piece pass through Belgium’s wall and into the net.

VAR overturned the goal for offside and encroachment by Taremi.

Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois made three saves, including a diving stop in the 14th minute.

Taremi had another close chance in the 53rd minute but fired straight at Courtois.

In Vancouver, Mohamed Salah inspired Egypt to a historic 3-1 win over New Zealand at BC Place.

The victory was Egypt’s first World Cup win.

New Zealand opened the scoring in the 15th minute when defender Finn Surman headed in a corner from Tim Payne.

Egypt equalized in the 58th minute after Mostafa Zizo headed in Mohamed Hany’s cross.

Egypt went ahead nine minutes later when Zico combined with Salah before the Egypt captain curled in a left-footed finish.

Trezeguet sealed the result with a header from Salah’s outswinging corner.

Egypt moved to the top of Group G with four points from two matches.

New Zealand, which drew Iran, 2-2, in its opener, dropped to the bottom of the group with one point.

In Atlanta, Spain eased past Saudi Arabia, 4-0, behind Lamine Yamal and Mikel Oyarzabal in Group H.

Yamal scored his first World Cup goal in the 10th minute.

Oyarzabal scored twice before halftime as Spain bounced back from a scoreless draw with Cape Verde.

Spain added a fourth goal shortly after the interval when the ball ricocheted off Saudi defender Hassan Altambakti and into the net.

“Every match is different even if the game plan is similar,” Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said.

“We analysed the previous match, and we all agreed that we needed more verticality to play deeper, and we saw this, and from minute one we were trying to suffocate the opponent.”

De la Fuente celebrated his 65th birthday with Spain’s first win of the tournament.

Yamal had appeared only as a substitute against Cape Verde after playing limited football in the previous two months.

Oyarzabal nearly completed a hat trick, but his shot from a wide angle hit the bar.

“We’re so happy to have turned things around,” Oyarzabal said.

“I didn’t have that many touches of the ball in the last game or such a good performance.

“I wouldn’t say I’m trying to prove myself because I’ve always said that I’ve felt appreciated and valued by the people whose opinion matters most to me, my teammates, the coach and everyone we work with.”

Spain moved to four points after two matches.

Saudi Arabia remained on one point after two games.

The 2026 World Cup is the first edition with 48 teams, increasing the number of participating nations and widening the field for first-time and returning contenders.