World Cup
2026-06-21 - Uruguay vs Cape Verde
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: World Cup Group H Match Day 2
Sunday 21st June 2026 - Kick Off 6pm (EST)
British Time 11pm
Uruguay
There was a lot of focus on Marcelo Bielsa's 'photoshoot' for the World Cup introductions, but the manager has insisted he is 'not a model' and the focus is on trying to improve Uruguay's standing within this Group. A late goal helped them avoid a devastating opening defeat, which would have made things very awkward, but Uruguay need to make amends and three points will go a long way to taking them through to the Knock Out Rounds.
Changes at half time inspired a much stronger second half performance from Uruguay, but Bielsa must have been concerned after a string of saves from the Saudi Arabia goalkeeper. A late goal saw Uruguay equalise, but they will feel they deserved more from the fixture than a point after more late saves were produced by Mohammed Al-Owais to frustrate the Uruguay players and fans in attendance in Miami.
In reality Uruguay will be grateful they avoided a defeat and four points is expected to be enough to get out of this Group, either as the second place or one of the best third place teams. Winning the Group will still be an outside ambition, but the focus right now will be picking up three points before facing Spain in what is likely to be a decider for top spot.
Ronald Araujo suffered an injury in training that likely keeps him out of all three Group Stage matches. Jose Gimenez was on the bench on Monday, but he may be back in the starting line up in this 'must win' fixture. Marcelo Bielsa will have been much happier with the second half performance against Saudi Arabia and that could influence his selection for this pivotal fixture.
Predicted Line Up: Muslera, Varela, Sanabria, Gimenez, Olivera, Ugarte, Bentancur, Valverde, Canobbio, M Araujo and Vinas (4-2-3-1)
Cape Verde
Merely getting to the World Cup Finals felt like a massive achievement for an island in the Atlantic Ocean off the West Coast of Africa. Cape Verde have a population of around 530,000 and there are more people living outside of the island with descendants from this island than those still living at 'home'.
It is no surprise that the squad has largely been pulled together from outside of Cape Verde with that in mind, but The Blue Sharks showed they have plenty of heart when holding Spain to a goalless draw in their first ever World Cup fixture. Vozinha was the star as the recently turned 40 year old goalkeeper made a couple of big saves to deny Spain, while Cape Verde threatened to break out on the counter attack as the European giants toiled.
Backing up that point will be the challenge for Cape Verde, but they will be aware that a win from the final two Group games should be enough to take them through to the Knock Out Rounds of the 2026 World Cup Finals against all of the odds. Once again they are likely going to want to sit in and make things very difficult for the favourite, but Cape Verde will also want to test the opposition goalkeeper a little more in their bid to turn a point into three.
After the heroics of the Group opener, it would be a real surprise if Cape Verde's manager Pedro Brito chooses to make changes to the starting eleven.
Predicted Line Up: Vozinha, Moreira, S Cabral, Lopes, Borges, Pina, Mendes, J Cabral, Duarte, Monteiro and Livramento (4-1-4-1)
Head to Head
This is the first meeting between these nations.
Prediction
Cape Verde will already feel they have achieved everything they have set out by earning a maiden World Cup point and earning that against European Champions Spain.
However, that result has given them a chance of earning a spot in the Last 32 of the World Cup Finals and a win in either of the last two Group games should be enough to progress.
On Monday they had 'nothing to lose', but that opportunity to earn a place in the Knock Out Rounds will be something that the squad will have noted and that can change the mindset. The Blue Sharks will have to show a bit more composure going forward, but they will also feel there are going to be more opportunities to do that against Uruguay and Saudi Arabia.
In reality it is the final Group game that feels like the best opportunity for Cape Verde and the expectation is that they will set up to frustrate Uruguay in this one. Avoiding a defeat would be a big achievement and set Cape Verde up for that final game against Saudi Arabia, but the underdog will need another big defensive and goalkeeping performance.
Marcelo Bielsa's Uruguay were disappointing in the first half against Saudi Arabia, but were pretty impressive in the second half when changes were made. Uruguay were only repelled by a very good goalkeeping display from Mohammed Al-Owais, but they will believe they can pick up from where they left off.
Conditions in Miami are going to be very tough again- it is expected to be very hot and there is a potential for thunderstorms that could disrupt the match.
However, Uruguay have experienced the conditions once and it is going to be tougher for Cape Verde to remain focused having played the first game in Atlanta where the Stadium can regulate the temperature.
This time they will be looking to defend in numbers in very hot conditions, which could sap energy, and Uruguay could take advantage.
Injuries to the first choice centre halves does leave Uruguay a bit more vulnerable at the back, but they largely contained Saudi Arabia in the first Group match and will feel they can sap the energy of this Cape Verde team to limit the attacking threat from the underdog.
There is pressure on Uruguay- they would not want to enter the final Group game against Spain needing a positive result to try and earn a place in the Knock Out Rounds. Winning here would almost certainly be enough to progress out of the Group Stage with 4 points on the board, and the feeling is that Marcelo Bielsa's team can do what is needed with a clean sheet likely in a winning effort.
The Pick :
Uruguay 3-0 Cape Verde
