In Group H, Cape Verde forced a 2-2 draw against two‑time champions Uruguay on Sunday, matching the South Americans' tally with two shots on target. The archipelago's ten‑island nation, ranked 63rd, opened the scoring via Kevin Pina’s 30‑yard free‑kick before Helio Varela equalised, leaving the match level at the final whistle.

The result puts the Blue Sharks level on points with Uruguay, sitting third in the group and keeping alive a chance to qualify as one of the eight best third‑placed sides. Their debut shock against Spain, a draw that defied a 70‑place ranking gap, underscored a blend of attacking verve and defensive resilience that has surprised pundits and fans alike.

With a final group game against Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde can secure progression by matching the Saudis' one point against Uruguay. Should they claim victory, they would join only Nigeria (1998) and Russia (2018) as lower‑ranked debutants to reach the knockout round, cementing what many describe as this tournament’s most entertaining underdog story.