*This content was translated by AI.
Cape Verde's surprise run continues. After drawing with "favorite" Spain, they secured a dramatic draw against "South American powerhouse" Uruguay, boosting their chances of advancing from the group stage.
On the 22nd (Korea time), Cape Verde drew 2-2 with Uruguay in the second group stage match of the 2026 FIFA North American World Cup Group H, held at Miami Stadium in Miami, USA.
Making their first-ever appearance in a World Cup finals tournament, Cape Verde was drawn into Group H alongside Spain, Uruguay, and Saudi Arabia. Though considered the weakest of the four teams, they are delivering results beyond expectations. Earlier, in the group stage opener, Cape Verde drew 0-0 with Spain, led by the performance of "40-year-old goalkeeper" Boscage (Chaves). Spain launched a staggering 27 shots, but Boscage's goal remained impenetrable.
After the match, Boscage emerged as a global topic of discussion. He also gained significant attention for revealing that he could not bring his mother to the World Cup stage due to U.S. visa issues. Following this, various efforts continued, including assistance from the U.S. government and Cape Verde authorities in the visa process, ultimately making it possible for Boscage's mother to travel to the United States.
Prior to the Uruguay match, Brazilian media outlet GE reported, "Boscage's mother, Ana Candida Ebora, has arrived in the U.S. to cheer for the World Cup," adding that "Boscage tearfully mentioned the difficulty of having his mother watch his matches live during this tournament, after which his mother was granted a U.S. entry visa."
According to reports, Boscage's mother told reporters at the arrival gate, "I came to wish my son luck and a good game."
In fact, Boscage and his Cape Verde teammates wrote another miracle in a match watched by his mother. They overturned expectations by drawing with Uruguay. The scoreline was only part of the story; the match content was equally competitive. While Uruguay held a slight edge in total shots with 17 to 12, Cape Verde did not back down against the powerhouse.
With this result, Cape Verde sits third in Group H with two draws (2 points). Uruguay, also with 2 points, ranks second due to a superior goal difference. However, Uruguay faces a difficult final group stage match against Group 1 leader Spain (1 win, 1 draw, 4 points).
Conversely, Cape Verde's chances of advancing to the Round of 32 have increased. In their final match, Cape Verde will face Saudi Arabia, the group's bottom team (1 draw, 1 loss, 1 point). A victory would give them 1 win and 2 draws (5 points), significantly boosting their self-reliant chances of reaching the Round of 32. Even a draw would keep their hopes alive in the competition among third-place teams.
On this day, Cape Verde scored the opening goal in the 21st minute of the first half. Midfielder Kevy Pina (Krasnodar) unleashed a powerful free-kick shot from a distance, curling it into the far corner of the net. The Uruguay goalkeeper stretched out his hands but could not stop the exquisite trajectory.
However, Cape Verde's defensive concentration wavered late in the first half. Uruguay equalized in the 44th minute with a goal from Maxi Araujo (Sporting CP). The ball hit a Cape Verde defender's head, struck the goalpost, and rebounded to Araujo, who headed it into the net. Subsequently, Uruguay took a 2-1 lead in stoppage time of the first half with an additional goal from Agustin Canobbio (Fluminense).
But Cape Verde did not give up. In the 16th minute of the second half, a passing error by the Uruguay defense was not missed by Eliu Varela. After winning the ball, Varela bypassed Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera (Estudiantes) and calmly pushed the ball into the empty net to equalize at 2-2.
Following this, a relentless back-and-forth battle continued between the two teams. Uruguay had a decisive chance in the second half when Canobbio faced the opposing goalkeeper, but his shot went wide. Cape Verde also had a crucial counter-attack opportunity but was thwarted by a superb tackle from Uruguay midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur (Tottenham), leaving them with regret. The match ultimately ended in a 2-2 draw.
On this day, goalkeeper Boscage did not make as many saves as in the Spain match. However, he constantly moved and shouted to coordinate the defense. With his mother watching from the stands, he stabilized the team and secured another valuable point.
Meanwhile, Cape Verde, ranked 67th in the FIFA rankings, competed against formidable teams such as Cameroon and Angola in the North American World Cup African Qualifiers Group D, and proudly secured the group title to claim their finals ticket. They are praised for their organized defense and quick counter-attacks.
Known by the nickname "Blue Sharks," Cape Verde is an island nation located in the Atlantic Ocean off the west coast of Africa. Comprising 15 islands, its land area is 4,033 square kilometers, approximately one twenty-fifth the size of Korea. Its population is only about 521,000. Cape Verde also joined FIFA in 1986. However, in this World Cup, they have created a surprising upset by consecutively earning points against Spain and Uruguay.
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*This content was translated by AI.
