Uruguay vs Cape Verde Picks and Prediction for Sunday, June 21, 2026
Use Code SSWC Uruguay and Cape Verde meet at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Sunday at 6:00 PM ET in a crucial Group H matchup at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Both teams enter with one point after very different opening matches. Uruguay was held to a disappointing 1-1 draw by Saudi Arabia, while Cape Verde earned one of the tournament's biggest surprises with a scoreless draw against Spain. With all four teams in Group H level on one point, three points here would provide a major boost toward the knockout stage. Uruguay is favored at -205 on the moneyline, while Cape Verde is listed at +650. Cash in the winning slip with our free World Cup picks.
Uruguay Preview
Uruguay entered the tournament expecting to start with three points but needed a late goal to rescue a draw against Saudi Arabia. Marcelo Bielsa's side controlled much of the second half and eventually found an equalizer through Maxi Araújo after sustained pressure in the final stages.
The performance was uneven. Uruguay generated 1.72 expected goals and held 67% possession, but the attack lacked sharpness for long stretches. Federico Viñas forced several saves from Mohammed Al-Owais, while Manuel Ugarte struck the post during a dominant second-half spell. Despite the draw, Uruguay created enough opportunities to suggest the attack is capable of a stronger showing moving forward.
Recent form remains a concern. Uruguay has drawn four of its last five matches and scored only two goals across those games. However, the midfield remains one of the team's strengths, with Ugarte, Federico Valverde, and Nicolás de la Cruz capable of controlling possession against most opponents. Uruguay should again see plenty of the ball in this matchup and will look to turn that territorial advantage into goals.
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Injuries: Uruguay has not reported any injuries to key players.
Cape Verde Preview
Cape Verde earned worldwide attention after holding Spain to a remarkable 0-0 draw in its World Cup debut. The result felt like a victory for a nation making its first appearance on soccer's biggest stage, and the defensive performance was the primary reason why.
Goalkeeper Vozinha delivered one of the best performances of the opening round, producing several key saves against Ferran Torres, Pedri, and Aymeric Laporte. Spain finished with 74% possession and 2.10 expected goals, but Cape Verde's defensive organization consistently frustrated one of the tournament favorites. The clean sheet was well deserved.
The challenge now becomes repeating that effort against another possession-heavy opponent. Cape Verde generated only 0.20 expected goals against Spain and spent most of the match defending deep in its own half. That strategy worked perfectly in the opener, but creating more attacking opportunities will be important against Uruguay. If Cape Verde can remain compact defensively and continue receiving strong goalkeeping, another competitive performance is possible.
Injuries: Cape Verde has not reported any injuries to key players.
Uruguay vs Cape Verde Pick
- Uruguay -1.5 (+160)
Cape Verde deserves credit for its result against Spain, but asking for another defensive masterpiece against a motivated Uruguay side is a difficult task. Uruguay controlled possession against Saudi Arabia, created quality chances, and was unfortunate not to score more than once. Bielsa's squad has greater depth, more experience, and should spend most of the match in the attacking half. Uruguay's urgency after dropping points in the opener gives value to the spread.
Uruguay vs Cape Verde Over/Under Pick
- Under 2.5 Goals (-160)
Cape Verde has already shown its willingness to defend with numbers behind the ball and make matches difficult. Uruguay has also struggled to finish chances consistently, scoring just once against Saudi Arabia despite dominating possession. While Uruguay should have enough quality to secure a victory, Cape Verde's defensive structure points toward a lower-scoring contest. A 1-0 or 2-0 Uruguay win appears more likely than a wide-open match, making under 2.5 goals the play.
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