MIAMI: Saudi Arabia were denied a famous victory as Uruguay struck late to salvage a 1–1 draw in an exciting FIFA World Cup 2026 Group H match at Miami Stadium.
Saudi Arabia looked in control for long spells after Abdullah Al-Amri gave them a first-half lead with a well-taken goal following a corner kick, putting pressure on the South American side.
Uruguay struggled to break through Saudi Arabia’s disciplined defensive setup in the opening half, with the Saudi side once again showing resilience on the global stage after their famous upset against Argentina in the 2022 World Cup.
However, Uruguay responded strongly in the second half after tactical changes by coach Marcelo Bielsa, which increased their attacking tempo and possession in the final third.
Saudi goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais produced several key saves to keep his side ahead, but sustained pressure from Uruguay eventually paid off in the 80th minute when Maxi Araujo converted a rebound to level the score.
Despite late attacking efforts from Uruguay, including a powerful attempt by Federico Valverde, Saudi Arabia managed to hold on for a point.
The result leaves Group H wide open, with qualification stakes becoming increasingly competitive as both teams remain in contention for the knockout stage.
