Uruguay - Cape Verde: score, highlights and statistics

Uruguay and Cape Verde meet for the very first time in football history at the 2026 FIFA World Cup - a clash between a two-time world champion and a nation making its long-awaited debut on the greatest stage of the sport.

Match Info: Uruguay vs Cape Verde

The match takes place on Sunday, 21 June 2026 at 11:00 PM BST at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, USA, as part of Group H of the 2026 FIFA World Cup - the second round of fixtures for both sides.

Where to Watch Uruguay vs Cape Verde?

Viewers in the United States have a wide range of options to follow this fixture. On television, the match airs on Fox Sports 1 and Telemundo, while online platforms include FOX One, Foxsports.com, Fubo TV, Peacock, and Telemundo Deportes En Vivo. Spanish-language listeners can also tune in via Futbol de Primera Radio.

In South America, fans in Uruguay and Argentina can watch on DIRECTV Sports on television and stream via DIRECTV GO. Brazilian supporters have a free option with CazéTV carrying the broadcast online. In Mexico, the match is available on VIX.

European viewers are covered too: the match streams on beIN SPORTS CONNECT in France, DAZN España in Spain, and DAZN Italia in Italy. Canadian fans can catch the action on TSN+, while Australian viewers can stream via SBS On Demand and New Zealand fans on TVNZ+.

Uruguay vs Cape Verde - Match Preview

This Group H matchday 2 fixture pits Uruguay - a nation with 15 World Cup appearances and two titles - against Cape Verde, playing only their second game at any FIFA World Cup, in what could be a decisive match for both sides' chances of advancing from the group.

For Uruguay, the stakes are clear. La Celeste face a group that also includes world number one Spain, meaning points against Cape Verde are all but essential for a comfortable progression. Uruguayan football tradition - built on defensive organisation, collective discipline and individual quality - will be tested against a Cape Verdean side that plays at a high tempo and is unafraid to attack.

For Cape Verde, the occasion is historic beyond measure. The Blue Sharks qualified for the World Cup for the first time ever in October 2025, finishing top of their CAF qualifying group with 8 wins from 10 matches. The island nation of just over 500,000 people arrives in Miami with nothing to fear and everything to gain - and their 3-0 win over Serbia in the final pre-tournament friendly confirms they are more than capable of troubling any opponent.

Head-to-Head: Uruguay vs Cape Verde

The match on 21 June 2026 marks the first-ever meeting between Uruguay and Cape Verde in football history. The two nations have never previously met in any competitive fixture or friendly international.

There is no previous head-to-head history to draw from. The record between these two nations begins here:

• 21 June 2026 - FIFA World Cup 2026, Group Stage (Group H) - first meeting in history between the two nations

Uruguay - Recent Form

Uruguay arrive at the 2026 World Cup with a mixed run of results - 1 win, 3 draws and 1 loss in their last 5 matches, scoring 4 goals and conceding 7.

The most alarming result in that sequence was a 1-5 defeat to the United States in a November 2025 friendly on American soil - a sobering scoreline that raised questions about Uruguay's vulnerability against high-pressing opponents. However, the squad responded with a goalless draw in Mexico and a composed 2-1 win over Uzbekistan. In March 2026, Uruguay drew 1-1 with England at Wembley before sharing a 0-0 stalemate with Algeria. These results paint a portrait of a side that is hard to beat but has struggled to impose itself offensively - only 1 goal scored in the 4 matches immediately before the tournament.

Cape Verde - Recent Form

Cape Verde enter their first World Cup on the back of 5 outings that produced 1 win, 3 draws and 1 defeat, with 7 goals scored and 6 conceded - a record that shows both attacking intent and defensive vulnerability.

The standout performance came on 31 May 2026, when the Blue Sharks hammered Serbia 3-0 in a home friendly in their final pre-tournament preparation. Before that, Cape Verde drew 1-1 with Finland at home and held Egypt to 1-1 and Iran to 0-0 in away encounters. The 4-2 loss to Chile in March 2026 remains the only blemish. Seven goals in five matches underlines Cape Verde's willingness to attack - a quality that makes their World Cup debut a compelling watch.

Facts and Statistics

4 key facts about this historic fixture at the 2026 FIFA World Cup:

• Uruguay and Cape Verde have never met before in any competitive or friendly fixture - 21 June 2026 is the first encounter in football history between the two nations.
• Uruguay are two-time World Cup winners (1930 and 1950) and compete in their 15th World Cup, while Cape Verde make their tournament debut for the very first time.
• Cape Verde qualified for the 2026 World Cup by winning their CAF qualifying group with 8 wins from 10 matches - one of the best qualifying records in Africa.
• In their last 5 matches each, both Uruguay and Cape Verde recorded identical records: 1 win, 3 draws, 1 defeat - making neither side a clear favourite on recent form alone.