Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay: Result, Stats & Predictions (World Cup 2026)
Saudi Arabia held Uruguay to a 1-1 draw in Miami, with keeper Al-Owais starring before Maxi Araújo rescued a point in the 79th minute.
15 June 2026
Result
Saudi Arabia 1-1 Uruguay — Group H, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, 15 June 2026.
Abdulelah Al-Amri put Saudi Arabia ahead in the 41st minute, reacting quickest to turn in the rebound after goalkeeper Muslera had kept out Mohamed Kanno's header from a corner. Uruguay, two-time World Cup winners, pushed hard but were repeatedly denied by a sensational display from Saudi goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais. Maxi Araújo finally levelled in the 79th minute with his left foot after latching onto a rebound, rescuing a point that felt like the minimum return for Marcelo Bielsa's side.
What it means for Last Man Standing pools
Uruguay were the comfortable LMS pick for this fixture — a two-time World Cup winner against a side who, despite their famous 2022 upset over Argentina, most pool players would classify as manageable. The draw is a frustrating result for anyone who backed Uruguay in round one. Saudi Arabia's resilience and Al-Owais's heroics mean they cannot be entirely dismissed for future rounds, but their inability to hold out for a famous result keeps the group open. Uruguay survive but will need to be sharper.
Pre-match forecasts
Pre-match forecasts placed Uruguay's win probability at around 59%, with Saudi Arabia at roughly 15% and a draw at 26%, per prediction aggregators. Uruguay were priced as heavy favourites at -200 to -230 across major exchanges. Saudi Arabia's 2022 shock win over Argentina loomed in the background — forecasters had them longer than typical underdog odds — but a draw would have been considered a respectable result for the Saudis before kickoff.
Standout stats
Mohammed Al-Owais was named player of the match after a string of saves that kept Saudi Arabia ahead through the second half. Per FIFA match data, Uruguay registered more than double Saudi Arabia's shot count in the second half, yet Al-Owais produced several crucial stops. The Saudi keeper's performance echoed a pattern from 2022, when Saudi Arabia's goalkeeper was similarly instrumental in their win over Argentina.
Uruguay arrived in Miami with disruptions: no warm-up games, a 24-hour travel delay, and key absences including De Arrascaeta and Araujo. Per tournament records, the two-time winners have now drawn their opening World Cup match for the first time since 2014, when they also eventually advanced. The group — which includes Spain and Cabo Verde both drawing on the same day — has been turned completely on its head after matchday one.
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