World Cup: Cape Verde Surprise again, Egypt beat New Zealand

Sunday's World Cup action saw another stunning result for Cape Verde and their cadre of former Ligue 1 stars. Get the latest with our roundup of the action from across North America. 

Uruguay 2-2 Cape Verde

In a Group H match played in Miami, Cape Verde, one of the smallest countries in the tournament, one again shocked a favored opponent by battling to a draw. After a scoreless match against Spain to open the tournament, they came from a goal down to level with Uruguay, led by former Marseille manager Marcelo Bielsa. Cape Verde's veteran side featured several players with Ligue 1 experience, including defender Steven Moreira (Rennes, Toulouse, Lorient), winger Ryan Mendes (Le Havre, LOSC) and forward Nuno da Costa (Valenciennes, Strasbourg, Auxerre, Caen). For Uruguay, former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Manuel Ugarte was in the eleven. 

In a battling first half, Cape Verde would open the scoring on 22 minutes, with Kevin Pina netting a free kick from range, with Uruguay responding just before the half. First, Maxi Araujo scored with a diving header after the ball had caromed off the post, before Agustín Canobbio put his side ahead with a glancing header fro Araujo's teasing cross. It looked like the two-time winners were having it their own way, but Cape Verde would snatch a point with a goal after the hour by substitue Helio Varela, who had just come on. With the result, Cape Verde control their destiny and could even top the group should they beat Saudi Arabia, while Uruguay will face a tough match against a Spain side for whom progress is yet to be confirmed.

Groupe H - Les joueurs passés en Ligue 1 🔙 pic.twitter.com/NSdfuOjliw

— Ligue 1 McDonald's (@Ligue1) June 21, 2026

New Zealand 1-3 Egypt

The day's final match was a group G encounter in Vancouver between New Zealand and Egypt, and the African side had the better of the All Whites throughout. OGC Nice defender Mohamed Abdelmomem came off the bench for the Pharaohs, while Saint-Étienne's Ben Old did the same. New Zealand opened the scoring with just fifteen minutes gone, but a flurry of goals from Egypt in the second half put the match out of reach, with Mohamed Salah scoring and setting up Trezeguet.

With the result, Egypt now top the group before facing Iran later this week, while New Zealand will have it all to do but could still qualify should they upset Belgium.

Read more:

>> World Cup: Nakamura, Japan make history

>> World Cup: Heartbreak for Côte d'Ivoire, Ecuador frustrated