Cabo Verde have written their name into FIFA World Cup history after midfielder Kevin Pina scored the island nation’s first-ever World Cup goal, unleashing a stunning low free kick from long range in their 2-2 draw against Uruguay YouTube in a Group H encounter on Sunday, June 21, 2026.
Pina’s early strike, fired from 35 yards, was the longest-range goal of the tournament so far, and according to Opta, Cabo Verde are the first team on record since 1966 to score their first FIFA World Cup goal from a direct free kick.
The defensive midfielder rifled the free kick past Uruguay’s goalkeeper at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, giving his country a 1-0 lead and an entire nation a moment they will never forget.
Uruguay, ranked 18th in the FIFA rankings compared to Cabo Verde’s 63rd, equalised through Maxi Araujo on 44 minutes before Agustin Canobbio scored six minutes into first-half stoppage time. However, the Blue Sharks were far from done. Helio Varela pounced on a defensive error to level the score at 2-2 in the 61st minute , capping a remarkable comeback against two-time World Cup champions.
Pina was born on January 27, 1997, in Praia, the capital of Cabo Verde. His football development took him through the Portuguese system before he eventually landed at FC Krasnodar in Russia.
The goal was also the first free kick scored by an African nation at the World Cup since Kalu Uche netted for Nigeria against Greece in 2010.
Following the result, both Uruguay and Cabo Verde sit on two points from two games, with Spain leading Group H on four points. Uruguay face Spain in their final group game, while Cabo Verde will be seeking their first World Cup victory.
