International coverage praised Maccabi Tel Aviv winger Helio Varela after he scored a dramatic equalizer in Cape Verde’s 2-2 draw with Uruguay in the 2026 World Cup. The match, played overnight Sunday to Monday, came after Cape Verde had already stunned Spain in the previous round and again wrote history by scoring its first-ever goals in the tournament.
Varela entered as a substitute and needed only three minutes to make an impact, finding the net in the 61st minute. Cape Verde had taken the lead in the 21st minute, but Uruguay went ahead before halftime. A major defensive error, along with a rash decision by goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, left Varela with a simple finish past the keeper to make it 2-2, which ended up as the final score.
Spanish daily AS wrote that Varela “politely accepted the gift Uruguay handed him” and sharply criticized Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa as “a lost soul searching for an identity in the 2026 World Cup.” The paper also said Cape Verde “never felt inferior” and described it as a talented side that plays quality football, noting that a win over Saudi Arabia would take it into the round of 32.
Sky Sports said Uruguay had “shot itself in the foot,” calling Muslera’s exit “wild,” but also praised Varela’s composure. Mundo Deportivo called Cape Verde “a gift to football,” describing it as refreshing, authentic, competitive, and entertaining, and said the Maccabi Tel Aviv player scored a “fantastic goal.” After two matches against former world champions Spain and Uruguay, Cape Verde has two points and enters the final round knowing a historic win could send it through, possibly even from first place in the group. A draw may also be enough, while a first-ever loss at the tournament would eliminate it.
