Group H has thrown up one of the most dramatic opening rounds in World Cup history, and now Uruguay face Cape Verde at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami with both sides desperate for a result.

Every team in the group sits on a single point after Matchday 1 delivered two draws, meaning three points here could prove decisive in the race for the knockout rounds.

Uruguay were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by Saudi Arabia, falling behind before Maxi Araujo's second-half equaliser salvaged a point.

Darwin Nunez was anonymous in the first half and was hauled off at the break by Bielsa.

Cape Verde, meanwhile, pulled off one of the great World Cup debut results, holding Spain to a goalless draw thanks to a masterclass from 40-year-old keeper Vozinha, who made seven saves to keep the heavyweights at bay.

La Celeste carry far more tournament pedigree and attacking firepower, but Cape Verde have already shown they can frustrate elite opposition.

The question is whether Vozinha can produce another miracle, or whether Uruguay's quality finally tells.

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Uruguay vs Cape Verde prediction

Uruguay to win in a low-scoring affair is the play here.

Cape Verde will set up exactly as they did against Spain: deep block, bodies behind the ball, Vozinha performing heroics between the sticks.

It worked beautifully in Atlanta, but asking a 40-year-old goalkeeper to replicate that level twice in six days is a stretch.

Uruguay created enough against Saudi Arabia to suggest the finishing will sharpen, and with their World Cup campaign on the line, the urgency will be turned up several notches.

That said, this has all the hallmarks of a grind. Cape Verde registered just six shots against Spain and looked entirely uninterested in an open contest. Their attacking output was next to nothing.

Uruguay, for their part, conceded only 12 goals across 18 World Cup qualifiers and have shown a preference for controlled, tight matches under pressure.

Expect Uruguay to dominate possession, probe patiently, and eventually find a way through. But Cape Verde's defensive discipline should keep the scoreline respectable.

A 1-0 or 2-0 win for Uruguay feels right, and as our Uruguay vs Cape Verde betting odds page shows, that makes Uruguay to win and under 2.5 goals the combination that best captures this match profile.

If you fancy backing Uruguay across a few markets, it's worth reading up on how a multi bet works first, and our World Cup betting hub keeps all the latest markets in one spot.

Uruguay vs Cape Verde head-to-head record

Uruguay and Cape Verde have never met before, so this match is the first meeting between the two sides.

Player markets to watch

Our pick: Darwin Nunez to score anytime.

Nunez was quiet against Saudi Arabia and was substituted at half-time, but he remains Uruguay's most dangerous attacking weapon. 

With the side needing a response, expect him to be fed more direct service if he keeps his place.

He has a habit of rising to the occasion in big moments for his country, and Cape Verde's defence will be a step below the Saudi Arabia backline that kept him quiet on Matchday 1.

Our pick: Vozinha to make four or more saves.

The veteran keeper is Cape Verde's entire tournament wrapped in one pair of gloves. He made seven saves against Spain and will face a similarly heavy bombardment from Uruguay.

Even if Cape Verde ultimately lose, Vozinha will be busy. The over on his saves looks a strong proposition given Cape Verde's tactical setup practically guarantees wave after wave of Uruguayan pressure.

Our pick: Federico Valverde to have one or more shots on target.

Valverde is Uruguay's engine from midfield and carries genuine goal threat from distance.

Against a packed Cape Verde defence, Uruguay may struggle to break through centrally, which plays into Valverde's ability to let fly from range.

He started against Saudi Arabia and will be central to everything Uruguay create going forward.

Uruguay vs Cape Verde Match Details

Date: Monday, June 22, 2026.

Kick-off: 8:00am AEST.

Location: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens.

Where to watch: Sportsbet, SBS.

Where to Watch Uruguay vs Cape Verde

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To access the stream for Uruguay vs Cape Verde simply find your way to the official betting page for this match. Or, if you have a bet on the game you can watch from your "My Bets" section.

Traditional World Cup broadcaster SBS is also showing every World Cup match, meaning you can also watch Uruguay vs Cape Verde on either SBS, SBS Viceland or SBS On Demand.

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