An 80th-minute equalizer from Maximiliano Araujo helped Uruguay secure a 1-1 draw against Saudi Arabia in their FIFA World Cup 2026 Group H opener at Miami on Tuesday.
Group H Standings Level
With this draw, all four teams in Group H – Spain, Cape Verde, Uruguay, and Saudi Arabia – are level on one point each.
First Half Action
Uruguay dominated the early stages, with Araujo forcing a shot wide in the fifth minute after a pass from Matias Vina. Saudi Arabia mounted some attacks, but Uruguay's defense held firm. In the 30th minute, Araujo set up Federico Vinas, whose header was saved by Saudi goalkeeper Mohamed Al-Owais. Fernando Muslera pushed away a shot from Abdulelah Al-Amri in the 38th minute, but three minutes later, Al-Amri scored from close range to give Saudi Arabia a 1-0 lead at halftime.
Second Half Fightback
Uruguay increased their aggression in the second half. Vinas created several chances, and Real Madrid star Federico Valverde also threatened the Saudi defense. Manuel Ugarte and Valverde had opportunities, but Al-Owais made crucial saves. In the 80th minute, Uruguay finally equalized. Vinas's header was saved by Al-Owais, but the ball fell to Araujo, who fired it into the net.
Match Statistics
Uruguay enjoyed over 66% ball possession and had 27 shots (10 on target) compared to Saudi Arabia's 10 shots (3 on target). The score remained 1-1 until full time.
