Dynamic midfielder earns his first start on soccer’s biggest stage as Uruguay settles for a 2-2 draw, now facing a crucial test against Spain
HERRIMAN, Utah (Mon., June 22, 2026) — For a second consecutive Group Match, Uruguay couldn't secure the full three points Sunday against Cape Verde, forced to settle for a surprising 2-2 draw in Miami. Now, the four-time world champion La Celeste needs a win later this week against tournament favorite Spain to guarantee advancement to the knockout rounds. However, with the expanded 48-team tourney allowing eight third-place teams to advance to the Round of 32, Uruguay would have a 96.1% chance of progression with a draw against Spain on Friday in Guadalajara (6:00p MT).Â
Real Salt Lake man Juan Manuel Sanabria made his first-ever World Cup start on Sunday, following an excellent final 45 minutes in the 1-1 opener against Saudi Arabia. The potential 2026 MLS Newcomer of the Year, Sanabria’s start ensured that the 22-year-old Utah club has seen at least one player start a match in five of the last six FIFA World Cups, with 2018 the lone exception. Sanabria was one of two changes for legendary Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa from the team which drew with Saudi Arabia, with Al Hilal striker Darwin Nunez surprisingly dropped to the bench.
Tournament upstart Cape Verde started with more intent going forward than it was able to show against Spain, but it was still Uruguay which created the first real opening in the match, when Federico Valverde drilled a left-footed shot wide. But the 10-island nation forged ahead when Kevin Pina crashed a long-range free-kick through a poor Uruguay wall and past GK Muslera for the shock 1-0 Cape Verde lead.
Uruguay were in desperate need of their equalizer when it arrived in the 44th minute, as Sidney Lopes Cabral headed the ball against his own post under pressure from Rodrigo Bentancur, and Araujo stooped to nod in the rebound with Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha stranded. They completed the turnaround in the sixth minute of first-half added time, as Canobbio turned in Araujo’s header across goal on the volley, a play started with Sanabria’s service from the left side.
Uruguay appeared in control early in the second half until Muslera inexplicably raced out of his goal in the 61st minute and Cape Verde substitute Varela took full advantage to roll the ball into an empty net after an excellent first touch. Real Madrid midfielder Valverde blazed a late free-kick over the bar from just outside the box, leaving Uruguay on the brink of a hugely disappointing exit.
The question remains, just how good - or bad - are Uruguay? A prohibitive favorite in the first two games at this tournament, against Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde that many believed La Celeste would handle with ease, Bielsa’s side simply has not been good enough. Two draws leave the proud South America nation of just four million residents with an uphill battle to reach the knockout stage, with their final group game against Spain.
Coming into the tournament, the biggest question about Uruguay was where the goals would come from.
Those have come largely from their wingers in recent times, but what couldn’t have been expected were the colossal mental mistakes that led to the three goals conceded in the two matches so far. Bielsa’s team has managed possession and created chances, but without causing any real sustained threat to what on paper appear to be inferior opponents.
When not facing true tourney contenders, Uruguay has just not been good enough in each 90-minute contest. So, no, to answer the pundits’ question, Uruguay are simply not good enough right now to be considered a real threat against Spain and, as a result, they cannot be considered ‘good’ - at least not this early in the tournament, now facing the brink of elimination based on Spain’s stellar Sunday form.
Uruguay has historically liked to do things the hard way, but a win and possibly even a draw looks like a bridge too far for this team to traverse.
Will Sanabria - RSL’s 2026 assist leader with six, and a potential MLS Newcomer of the Year candidate - earn the starting nod for Bielsa and the proud Uruguay side in Friday’s critical contest? Can the RSL man be a difference-maker with La Celeste backs against the wall? All the questions will be answered Friday night in Guadalajara!
RSL players, coaches and staff have now returned to their Herriman-based Zions Bank Training Center. RSL is expected to play a trio of preseason matches to be announced on June 27 and July 8 before hosting English Championship side Burnley FC at America First Field in Sandy on Wednesday, July 15, prior to a return to 2026 MLS reg. season action on Wed., July 22, at Los Angeles Football Club. RSL also travels to Portland on Sat., July 25 and St. Louis on Sat., August 1 in Major League Soccer action prior to a trio of Leagues Cup contests at home.
The fourth-year MLS vs. Liga MX tournament sees RSL host the legendary Tigres UANL on Tues., August 4 at America First Field, kicking off a run that also sees Atlante CF on Sat., August 8 and FC Juarez on Tues., August 11, prior to home MLS contests against Minnesota United on Sat., August 15 and FC Dallas on Wed., August 19. Those five home games in 16 days could be critical to RSL’s 2026 campaigns on various fronts, with Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni’s side boasting seven wins in eight home matches so far in 2026.
Please visit www.RSL.com/tickets for more information on RSL’s MLS and Leagues Cup slates.
