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Uruguay controlled the ball and created many chances, but Saudi Arabia held them to a 1-1 draw in their 2026 FIFA World Cup Group H opener at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium on Monday.
The result means all four teams in the group—Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Spain, and Cape Verde—are tied with one point each after the first round, since Spain and Cape Verde drew 0-0 earlier.
Defender Abdulelah al-Amri put Saudi Arabia ahead four minutes before halftime, scoring after Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera dropped a header from a corner.
Uruguay struggled to find its rhythm in the first half. At halftime, coach Marcelo Bielsa made two changes, bringing on winger Agustin Canobbio and Juan Manuel Sanabria for defender Matias Vina and striker Darwin Nunez.
The substitutions made a quick impact, as Uruguay took 22 shots in the second half. Manchester United’s Manuel Ugarte hit the post from outside the box around the 60th minute. Later, Saudi goalkeeper Mohammed al-Owais dropped a simple save, and Maxi Araujo scored the equalizer with 10 minutes left.
Despite constant pressure, Saudi Arabia, coached by Georgios Donis, who took over only two months ago, held on to earn a point.
'We should have won this match,' Bielsa said after the game. 'We weren't able to show the best version of ourselves,' he added, pointing out that his team only improved after halftime.
Saudi Arabia, which famously beat the 2022 World Cup champions Argentina 2-1 in Qatar, showed the same determination in defense.
Uruguay’s arrival in the United States was delayed by a paperwork issue with their team's plane, and the match began under tough conditions, with temperatures over 30 degrees Celsius and high humidity.
Uruguay, which won the World Cup in 1930 and 1950, will play Cape Verde next. Saudi Arabia’s next match is against Spain.
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