France winger Franck Ribery and Uruguay striker Diego Forlan showed flashes of their potential, but the fear of losing the opening game stifled offensive tactics for much of the match.
The low point came when Uruguay midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro was sent off with two yellow cards after a wild challenge on Bacary Sagna in the 81st minute.
In the end, an early goalmouth miss from France forward Sidney Govou and excellent save from Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera left Group A as wide open as possible.
The match at the sellout 64,100-seat Green Point Stadium had little of the thrills and drama of the 1-1 opener between South Africa and Mexico at Soccer City, but the result left all four teams tied with one point.
South Africa plays Uruguay next on Wednesday, one day before France meets Mexico.
Down to 10 men for the last nine minutes of regulation and three minutes of injury time, Uruguay concentrating on kicking the ball out of defense. But even with a man advantage, France failed to make the difference.
"We had to guard against an unlucky counter," France coach Raymond Domenech said.
After the final whistle, the Uruguayans embraced each other, happy to have escaped with a point, while most of the French players were wiping their faces with the disappointment of a lost opportunity.
Domenech looked unhappy at the final whistle, swiping his hand in frustration and then digging his hands deep in his pockets before going across to shake counterpart Oscar Tabarez's hand.
"It is almost a beautiful 0-0," Domenech said. "But the result is what it is." Almost throughout the match, both teams were troubled by the slippery field which made deep passes next to impossible to play and left Japanese referee Yuichi Nishimmura unsure of his footing at one stage.
France may have dominated the first half, but its lack of finishing laid bare the crisis of confidence that has long affected the troubled 1998 champions.
Great work from Abou Diaby set up Ribery on the left and his pinpoint low cross found Govou perfectly in the center.
But instead of blasting the ball home, the Lyon forward fudged a tough sideways glance that sent the ball wide. It was finishing unworthy of a World Cup.
Some of France's best chances came from set pieces, usually taken by Yoann Gourcuff. From a tight angle on the far left, the Bordeaux midfielder curled a free kick to the near corner, forcing Muslera into an excellent save.
Uruguay, which won the title in 1930 and 1950, did its part to contain the French, showing no shame in hiding behind its defensive reputation and sometimes having more than six players in its penalty area to contain a lone Frenchman.
"They were good, solid in defense," Domenech said.
In the 72nd, Forlan had an open shot from 15 meters (yards) which just went wide. Moments later, ineffective strike partner Luis Suarez was replaced.
Any intention to look for victory went out the window when Lodeiro was sent off and even Forlan plied back in defense.
Red card: Nicolas Lodeiro (Uruguay) 81
Attendance: 64,100
1-Fernando Muslera; 2-Diego Lugano, 3-Diego Godin, 6-Mauricio Victorino; 16-Maximiliano Pereira, 15-Diego Perez (8-Sebastian Eguren 87), 17-Egidio Arevalo, 18-Ignacio Gonzalez (14-Nicolas Lodeiro 63); 11-Alvaro Pereira, 9-Luis Suarez (13-Sebastian Abreu 74), 10-Diego Forlan.
1-Hugo Lloris; 2-Bacary Sagna, 3-Eric Abidal, 5-William Gallas, 13-Patrice Evra; 8-Yoann Gourcuff (15-Florent Malouda 75), 14-Jeremy Toulalan, 19-Abou Diaby; 10-Sidney Govou (11-Andre-Pierre Gignac 85), 21-Nicolas Anelka (12-Thierry Henry 72), 7-Franck Ribery.
Yuichi Nishimura (Japan)
