Saudi Arabia 1-1 Uruguay: Al Amri Opens Scoring, Araujo Header Levels

On June 18, 2026, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay battled to a 1-1 draw in their opening Group H match of the FIFA World Cup. Both sides took a point from a tightly contested encounter.

The first half saw Uruguay dominate possession with 67%, but Saudi Arabia's defense held firm. Against the run of play, Saudi Arabia broke the deadlock in the 41st minute: A. Al Amri found the back of the net to give his side a 1-0 lead at halftime.

Uruguay continued to press in the second half, registering 27 total shots with 10 on target. Their persistence paid off in the 80th minute when M. Araujo headed home to level the score at 1-1. Neither team could find a winner, and the match ended all square.

Statistically, Uruguay dominated: total shots 27-7, shots on goal 10-3, possession 67%-33%, corners 14-4, and expected goals (xG) 1.72-0.66. Saudi Arabia goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais made 9 saves to keep his team in the game.

The player of the match was Saudi Arabia's goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais, who earned a rating of 7.7. The 34-year-old, who plays for Al-Hilal and stands 185 cm tall, was born in Al-Hasa. He completed 29 passes and made 9 crucial saves to secure a point for his team.

After the first round of Group H, all four teams are level on 1 point: Saudi Arabia and Uruguay lead due to identical goal records (1-1), while Spain and Cape Verde drew 0-0 in the other group match.

For Saudi Arabia, this draw provides a solid foundation for qualification. They face Spain next on June 22. Uruguay will take on Cape Verde, also on June 22.

Saudi Arabia showed their determination to create another Asian surprise, while Uruguay will need to improve their finishing. The group remains wide open, with every team still in contention.

Related: Match Details | Saudi Arabia | Uruguay | Group H Standings