Uruguay - Cape Verde / 2026 FIFA World Cup

Follow the LIVE broadcast of the Uruguay vs. Cape Verde match in Group H of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on ŠPORT.sk! The match, also broadcast live on JOJ Šport, kicks off at 00:00 CET.

The 2026 World Cup has delivered unexpected results and dramatic storylines from its opening days, and Group H is no exception. South American powerhouse Uruguay has had a shaky start to their tournament campaign. If the star-studded squad wants to avoid an early exit, they must decisively overcome the resilient defensive wall of tenacious debutants Cape Verde in their second match. The African representatives already proved in their first game that the underdog role suits them perfectly, allowing them to frustrate even the biggest favorites.

For the footballers from Cape Verde, this period feels like a dream come true. While their previous six attempts to qualify for the global elite fell short, their seventh mission was successful. Their journey didn't start ideally, suffering a tough 4-1 defeat in Cameroon. However, in the subsequent seven qualification matches, they found their stability, dropping points only in two draws.

In the opening round, even the star-studded Spanish team felt the strength of their defensive doctrine. The goalless 0-0 draw made headlines worldwide as the biggest sensation of the tournament so far. While their attacking play was largely sterile – managing only one corner kick and one shot on target late in the game – their tactical discipline was impeccable.

Cape Verde also hit peak form in the pre-tournament period, convincingly defeating Serbia and Bermuda both by 3-0. In the March international window in Auckland, New Zealand, they lost 4-2 to Chile, but that was after a promising first half and a second-half red card. Three days later, they drew with Finland.

Uruguay's national team, on the other hand, is grappling with entirely different concerns. "La Celeste" is experiencing a challenging period of instability in both performance and results. Their promising qualifying run, which saw them defeat Brazil (2-0) at home and even triumph 2-0 in Argentina, suffered a fatal blow at the 2024 Copa América. There, Colombia stopped them (1-0) before the final, and their playing machine stalled. In fact, they've secured a full three points in only one of their last nine consecutive qualifying matches.

A glimmer of their old form appeared a year ago with two victories over Venezuela (2-0) and Peru (3-0), but the autumn preparation period once again exposed defensive weaknesses. After a goalless draw in Mexico, they suffered a harsh 5-1 defeat to the United States three days later. Although they managed to surprise England with a 1-1 draw in London in March, the same result in their final warm-up against Algeria (1-1) hinted at problems. These fully materialized in their opening World Cup match against Saudi Arabia. The Uruguayans fatally slept through the first half, and despite dominating the second half and producing 22 shots (8 on target), they only managed a 1-1 draw. Any further loss of points could have fatal consequences for the South American giant in their quest for the knockout stages.

This will be a historic first encounter for both nations. Uruguay is the overwhelming favorite on paper, but breaking down an organized defensive block will require immense patience and precision, qualities they have lacked in front of goal so far.