Mexicans who conquered the Major League World Series

Two ties with a different flavor. For Uruguay, frustration; for Cape Verde, another chapter of history. The African team, in its senior debut in a World Cup, rescued a 2-2 defeat against the Celeste in Miami and keeps alive the dream of advancing to the direct elimination phase.

Cape Verde continues making history

Kevin Pina opened the scoring with a powerful free kick that beat Fernando Muslera, Cape Verde’s first goal in a World Cup. Helio Varela, who recently entered, tied the game in the second half with a shot that surprised the Uruguayan goalkeeper ahead.

“When we defended well, we made a difference; when we gave up the spotlight, the difference was shortened,” explained Marcelo Bielsa, coach of Uruguay. Varela celebrated with euphoria, while Muslera and his teammates lowered their heads.

The goalkeeper Vozinha, 40 years old, was once again a figure. His mother, who could not travel to the game against Spain due to visa problems, this time watched it from the stands. It was the first World Cup match with two starting goalkeepers over 40 years old: Muslera turned 40 on June 16.

Uruguay, on the brink of the abyss

Maxi Araújo and Agustín Canobbio put Uruguay ahead before the break. But defensive errors doomed the team. “Receiving a goal like the one we received helps a team with fewer resources to be present,” lamented Bielsa. “Organizational errors are the driver’s responsibility.”

Uruguay has two points, the same as Cape Verde, while Spain leads Group H with four after beating Saudi Arabia. La Celeste will face Spain on Friday with the obligation to win. “We have to beat him, it is an enormous challenge,” said Bielsa.

Meanwhile, France beat Senegal 3-1 with a double from Kylian Mbappé, who has 14 goals in three World Cups, two shy of Messi and Klose’s record. Argentina, current champion, faces Austria with Messi in search of becoming the tournament’s all-time top scorer (he shares the record with 16 goals) and achieving his 18th victory in the World Cup.

Panama and Croatia measure forces in Toronto

The official calendar of the 2026 FIFA World Cup already has a date for the duel between Panama and Croatia. It will be on June 23, 2026 at BMO Field in Toronto, as part of Group L.

The match corresponds to the group stage of the tournament. Both teams will face each other in a direct duel within their group, with a venue and schedule already defined by the organization.

Venue and context of the meeting

BMO Field, located in Toronto, Canada, will be the setting. This stadium is one of the Canadian venues included in the World Cup calendar, which for the first time will be held in three countries.

The crossing is part of the sequence of Group L commitments. Beyond the date and place, the available information is limited to the central data: teams, group, stadium and city.

The schedule was published on the official FIFA website, where the complete fixture of the competition is detailed. For more information, you can consult the official link: [FIFA Calendar 2026](https://www.fifa.com/en/articles/match-schedule-fixtures-results-teams-stadiums).

The match represents a significant opportunity for both teams on their path in the tournament.

César Arturo Ramos Palazuelos, originally from Culiacán, will become the Mexican referee with the most World Cup matches officiated. The record will come when he delivers justice in the match between Scotland and Brazil in Group C. This will be his ninth game as a center back in World Cups.

The whistler had already participated in three World Cup editions. In Russia 2018 he whistled three games, in Qatar 2022 he added four and in the current edition he has two. With this match, he surpasses fellow Mexican Armando Archundia, who had established the mark with eight games in two World Cups (five in Germany 2006 and three in South Africa 2010).

For this historic match, Ramos will be accompanied by Mexican assistants Alberto Morín and Marco Bisguerra. The refereeing team is completed with the Norwegians Espen Eskas as fourth referee and Jan Erik Engan as reserve.

This second match in the current World Cup follows the controversial duel between Iran and New Zealand that Ramos previously directed. His career includes a decade covering high-level sporting events, although his work as a central judge now places him in a prominent place in the history of Mexican arbitration.