Maxi Araujo salvaged a point for Uruguay, preventing Saudi Arabia from claiming another memorable World Cup victory as the match ended in a 1-1 draw in Miami.
The Saudis, who stunned eventual champions Argentina in their opening game of the 2026 World Cup, took the lead through Abdulelah Al-Amri in the first half. However, they faced relentless pressure towards the end and couldn’t maintain their advantage against the two-time champions.
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After a forgettable first half from Uruguay, where Federico Vinas managed only a header that Mohammed Al-Owais saved, the South Americans found themselves on the back foot.
Abdulelah Al Amri put Saudi Arabia into the lead (Getty)
Earlier, Uruguay had received a warning when Al-Amri nearly scored from a corner in the 38th minute, forcing Fernando Muslera to make an impressive save.
Just three minutes later, Al-Amri reacted swiftly to pounce on a rebound, scoring after Muslera had blocked Mohamed Kanno’s header.
Vinas forced another save from Al-Owais before halftime, and following the break, Uruguay took control of the possession. Manuel Ugarte came close with a low shot that hit the post after an hour.
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Maxi Araujo spared Uruguay’s blushes and earned them a point with a late equaliser (Reuters)
Substitute Brian Rodriguez attempted a curling shot from the edge of the box in search of a winner, but Al-Owais made crucial saves from both Nicolas de la Cruz and Federico Valverde in stoppage time.
This draw keeps teams from the AFC unbeaten in their first five matches of this World Cup, all played against European or South American teams.
The outcome adds another twist to Group H, where Cape Verde also managed to secure a draw against Spain, finishing in a goalless stalemate. All teams now have one point, with Uruguay leading the group, followed by Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde, and Spain, the tournament favorites, at the bottom.