- Uruguay have taken 1 point from their opening match at the FIFA World Cup 2026, drawing 1-1 with Saudi Arabia.
- Cape Verde have also collected 1 point from their one FIFA World Cup 2026 match, picking up a 0-0 draw against Spain.
- Cape Verde have won three, drawn one and lost one of their last five matches in all competitions.
Miami will be in for a treat
Group H leaders Uruguay face Cape Verde at the Miami Stadium in what should be a fascinating tactical battle between a relentless pressing team and a compact, disciplined defensive unit on Sunday.
Marcelo Bielsa's men are one of the most intense pressing sides in this tournament so far, consistently hunting in packs and attempting to recover the ball as high up the pitch as possible. The Uruguayan midfield is led by the likes of Federico Valverde and Manuel Ugarte, two players who have been excellent in transition as well as in driving the ball forward.
Uruguay play a high-tempo, vertical game and they will look to overload wide areas and central spaces in the hope that Maximiliano Araujo, who has already found the net in FIFA World Cup 2026, can finish off the chances they create.
Cape Verde can cause an upset
Cape Verde have a very different way of playing, preferring to keep their players in a low-to-mid block while maintaining their defensive structure and countering at pace. They may not play the prettiest football, but Bubista has made them extremely difficult to break down, as Spain found out when Cape Verde held them to a 0-0 draw.
The Cape Verdeans look up for the challenge of this first World Cup appearance and have shown in the last week that they can be dangerous on the break, with their pacy wide players posing a real threat to teams when on the counter.
Both teams can get on the scoresheet
Both sides are capable of getting on the scoresheet on Sunday, but I wouldn't expect a high-scoring match, as Cape Verde have proven they can sit in and soak up pressure before hitting teams on the attack and Uruguay have shown they have a patient side to them, even if they don't always utilise it.
Both teams to score - Yes is a solid punt at 2.36, while I'm also going for Under 2.5 goals at 1.67. This should be a tight and tense game and I think it will take something special for either side to unlock the other's defence, but I am giving the edge to Cape Verde, who will make history if they can nick the victory.
