World Cup 2026: Cape Verde draw with Uruguay and near knockout qualification

Written off by pundits going into their match against Uruguay – Williams and Benni McCarthy on BBC One both predicted they would lose – Cape Verde refused to follow the script.

A gift led to the second goal which drew the scores level, but Helio Varela did well regardless to produce a deft touch to take the ball past the stranded Muslera before stroking it into the back of the net.

After that, Cape Verde showed the defensive strength that made the difference against Spain to be able to hold on to a point.

They made sure to combine it with their attacking threat, though, and continued to hunt for a way to snatch three points.

It was a performance which led former South Africa striker McCarthy to say he has a “new lease of respect” for Cape Verde, and ex-Wales defender Williams to claim it was the “most entertaining” game he has covered at the World Cup so far.

“They really came out to play,” said McCarthy. “They were sensational. I thought they were brave.

“The only thing that’s needed is working on their final-third entry, that composure, working on those decisions in the final moment of the game. I think they’ve won a lot of people’s hearts after this performance.”

One Cape Verde fan told BBC Sport at a fan park in the US that “everybody doubted us, everybody thought we weren’t going to make it. We’re here now”.

Such a reaction captures the feeling currently surrounding Cape Verde, who are fast becoming one of the best stories of this year’s World Cup.