Uruguay and Saudi Arabia Draw 1-1 in Dramatic World Cup Opener

Uruguay and Saudi Arabia played to a 1-1 draw in Miami at the 2026 World Cup, with Saudi Arabia avoiding defeat against a South American side that entered as the favorite. The result came four years after Saudi Arabia’s famous win over Argentina, but this time it was Uruguay that had to settle for one point.

Saudi Arabia took the lead in the 41st minute through Al Amri, the former Maccabi Tel Aviv player, scoring his first goal for the national team. Uruguay controlled much of the second half, but could not break through until Marcos Araújo equalized in the 80th minute. Despite the pressure, the Saudis held on for a valuable point in a group race that remains open.

Goalkeeper Mohammed Al Owais was the standout performer, making nine saves and repeatedly stopping Uruguay’s attacks. Saudi Arabia, which is also building toward hosting the 2034 World Cup, showed it would not merely be making up the numbers. Uruguay, meanwhile, dropped points in a match coach Marcelo Bielsa had hoped would give his team momentum early in the tournament.

For Uruguay, the result adds to concerns after an earlier World Cup exit in the group stage and amid injury problems and criticism surrounding Bielsa’s squad. The team is going through a generational change, and veteran goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, who turns 40 tomorrow, returned to the lineup. Uruguay next faces Cabo Verde in a match it must win, while Saudi Arabia’s performance also marked a milestone for coach Giorgos Donis, the former Maccabi Tel Aviv manager, who became only the second coach to work in both the Israeli Premier League and a World Cup.