Uruguay v Cape Verde Prediction: 29/10 For Class To Prevail But Minnows Will Give Former Champions A Scare

William Hill News look ahead to Sunday night’s Group H clash between Uruguay and Cape Verde, with the two teams looking to build on draws in the opening round of the 2026 World Cup.

Uruguay meet Cape Verde in a Group H clash that already carries the feel of a knockout game, even if the tournament is in its embryonic stage. Both sides arrive with a point on the board after opening draws, and that keeps the margin for error tiny in a section where every result can flip the picture fast.

Uruguay v Cape Verde Best Bets:

• Both teams to score – 5/4
• Uruguay to win & both teams to score – 29/10
• Uruguay to win 2-1 – 13/2

Uruguay started with a 1-1 draw against Saudi Arabia, a result that left them level with the rest of the group after the first round. That opener was not as comfortable as Uruguay would have wanted, but it did at least stop the group from slipping away before the second matchday.

Cape Verde’s first World Cup game produced the kind of headline that sticks. The debutants held Spain to a 0-0 draw, a result that immediately changed the mood around Group H and gave them real belief heading into this one.

For a side making its first appearance on the global stage, that was a serious statement. Uruguay’s recent competitive profile still points to a squad with more tournament pedigree, but this match is not about reputation alone. Cape Verde have already shown they can absorb pressure, stay organised, and make life awkward for a bigger opponent.

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Uruguay will lean on their established spine, with Federico Valverde, Manuel Ugarte, Rodrigo Bentancur, Ronald Araujo and Darwin Nunez among the names shaping the team’s ceiling. That mix gives them quality in midfield, strength at the back, and enough punch up front to punish any drop in concentration.

Cape Verde have no reported injuries or suspensions in the current squad data, and coach Bubista has the luxury of continuity after the Spain draw. That matters for a team whose best performance so far has come from collective discipline rather than individual star power.

The tactical question is whether Cape Verde can repeat the same defensive control while offering more of a threat in transition. Uruguay will expect to have more of the ball, but they cannot afford to let the game drift into a patient, messy grind where one set piece or one loose touch decides everything.

Uruguay vs Cape Verde Match Odds:

• Uruguay – 4/9
• Draw – 29/10
• Cape Verde – 6/1

Uruguay’s best path is probably the direct one: move the ball with purpose, get their most dangerous runners into advanced areas quickly, and avoid giving Cape Verde the sort of slow-burn game they clearly enjoy. The longer the score stays level, the more the pressure shifts onto the side expected to win.

Valverde gives Uruguay the kind of edge that can change a preview into a highlight reel in one moment. If he finds space between the lines or arrives late into the box, Cape Verde will need more than good organisation to keep the door shut.

Cape Verde’s opening draw against Spain showed they can survive long spells without the ball and still keep their shape. That has to be the starting point again, because the size of the challenge does not change just because the opponent wears a different shirt.

Their best chance is to keep the game compact, protect the central areas, and trust that frustration will creep into Uruguay’s play if the first goal does not arrive early. If Cape Verde can drag this into the final half-hour with the score still level, the tension starts to work in their favour.

This feels closer than Uruguay would like, but the South Americans still have the stronger tournament record, the deeper top-end quality, and the more obvious match-winners. Cape Verde have already earned respect, though, and nobody should expect them to roll over after what they produced against Spain.

Uruguay should edge it, but by a narrow margin rather than anything comfortable. A 2-1 win for Uruguay looks the likeliest call, with Cape Verde pushing them harder than many expected and keeping the match alive deep into the second half.

*Odds subject to change – prices accurate at the time of writing*