Uruguay vs Cape Verde: a match where the favorite can no longer afford mistakes - 22.06.2026
The second round of Group H at the 2026 World Cup brings us one of the most intriguing clashes of the matchday—Uruguay faces Cape Verde. And while, before the tournament, many would have called this a routine outing for the South Americans, after the opening round, everything looks completely different.
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The group situation has become as tangled as it gets. Uruguay unexpectedly dropped points against Saudi Arabia (1-1), while Cape Verde pulled off one of the biggest shocks of the opening round by holding Spain to a goalless draw. As a result, after the first round, all four teams in the group sit on one point each, and the race for a playoff spot essentially starts from scratch.
This game is of massive importance for Uruguay. Marcelo Bielsa’s side is considered one of the group favorites, but another slip-up could seriously complicate their path before a decisive final group match against Spain. Uruguay’s squad still looks impressive: Federico Valverde remains the team’s driving force, and the quality up front far exceeds that of their opponent.
But Cape Verde has already shown that they haven’t come to their World Cup debut just to make up the numbers. The draw with Spain wasn’t a fluke—it was the product of a well-organized, disciplined performance. Veteran goalkeeper Vozinha was especially impressive, earning man of the match honors and single-handedly keeping a clean sheet.
The main question ahead of this encounter is whether Cape Verde can once again withstand the pressure from a more illustrious opponent. Uruguay will almost certainly control possession and dictate play, while the African side will once again rely on discipline, a compact defense, and rapid counterattacks.
From a tournament strategy perspective, a draw would clearly favor Cape Verde, while Uruguay will be aiming for all three points. In the current World Cup format, four or five points almost guarantee a spot in the knockout stage, so the winner here will take a huge step toward the round of 16.
This won’t be an easy match for the favorites. Uruguay is objectively stronger on paper, but after Cape Verde’s sensational result against Spain, no one is taking this team lightly anymore.
Prediction: Uruguay to win.
Probable lineups:
- Uruguay: Muslera, Varela, Cáceres, Olivera, Sanabria, Valverde, De la Cruz, Bentancur, Canobbio, Viñas, Araújo.
- Cape Verde: Vozinha, Cabral, Diney, Pico, Moreira, Duarte, Lenini, Cabral, Monteiro, Mendes, Livramento.
