One of World Cup's great stories – can Cape Verde extend dream run?

Unbeaten debutants

Cape Verde's World Cup campaign continues to defy expectations. After a shocking 1-1 draw with Spain – a team ranked 65 places higher in FIFA's rankings – the Blue Sharks held two-time champions Uruguay to a 2-2 draw, further cementing their status as one of the tournament's most exciting stories.

Match highlights

From the first minute, Cape Verde played an attacking game, constantly threatening Uruguay's defence. Kevin Pina opened the scoring with a remarkable 30-yard free-kick after Uruguay's wall parted as they jumped. Helio Varela later equalised with a deft finish past goalkeeper Fernando Muslera.

Social media sensation

Goalkeeper Vozinha, who had 40,000 Instagram followers before the Spain match, now has over 15 million. His mother, unable to attend the Spain game due to visa costs, was present in Miami to see the draw with Uruguay.

Path to the knockout stage

Cape Verde sit third in Group H with two points. Under the expanded World Cup format, the top two teams in each group qualify automatically, while eight of the 12 best third-placed teams also advance. A win against Saudi Arabia on 26 June would likely be enough.

Expert praise

Former South Africa striker Benni McCarthy said he has "a new lease of respect" for Cape Verde, while ex-Wales defender Ashley Williams called the Uruguay game "the most entertaining" he has covered at this World Cup.

Cape Verde would become only the third team to reach the knockout stage with a lower FIFA ranking (63rd) than Nigeria (74th in 1998) and Russia (70th in 2018).