Uruguay entered the field as favorites against Saudi Arabia in their World Cup Group H debut, at the Miami Stadium (United States), but the Green Falcões (the Saudi national team's nickname) opened the scoring in the 41st minute, with a goal from Al-Amir. After the break, Celeste Olímpica pressed until the tie was achieved, with a goal from Maxi Araújo, in the 34th minute. The Uruguayans pressed until the last minute in search of a comeback, but the game ended in a draw, largely due to the exceptional performance of goalkeeper Al-Owais. A hard-fought draw. 😤#FIFAWorldCup June 16, 2026 Related news: Cape Verde holds off Spain and debuts in World Cups with a historic draw. Neymar takes another exam and continues without training with the Brazilian team. Belgium and Egypt are 1-1 in the opening of group G of the World Cup. In the first half, the Uruguayan team almost opened the scoring after four minutes. The play started with Viña who advanced from the left side, beat the marking and played to Maxi Araújo at the edge of the penalty area. The number 20 shot accurately, but the attentive Saudi goalkeeper made a great save. The game continued cautiously, with errors from side to side. Until the 17th minute, the Saudi team had the first chance to open the scoreboard. Midfielder Salem Al-Dawsari intercepted the Uruguayans' wrong ball, advanced and shot hard from the edge of the area, but the ball went over the end line. In the 29th minute, Celeste attacked again with Varela, on the right side. The full-back triangulated with Betancur, who sent the ball into the penalty area. In the rebound, the ball fell to Vinãs, who shot accurately. Goalkeeper Al-Owais saved, but it was no longer worth anything, because the referee called a foul. The final 15 minutes were full of pressure from Falcões Verdes and the one who shone was Uruguayan goalkeeper Muslera. First he punched the ball away from a free kick from number 7 Al-Juwayr. Then, in the 37th minute, the Saudi center forward again had the chance to open the scoring, after a corner ball in the area. Al-Juwayr dominated and shot accurately, but Muslera made a beautiful save. Four minutes later, the Saudi goal came, after a corner taken by Al-Juwayr, as Kanno headed in dangerously. Muslera still went for the ball, but gave it a rebound, and Al-Amir took advantage to put it into the back of the net. At a disadvantage, the Uruguayans pressed in the final minutes. In the 44th minute, Araújo took a free kick inside the area to Viñas, who headed it dangerously, but goalkeeper Al-Owais avoided the goal. 🙌🏼 pic.twitter.com/OFWUTSfXZX June 15, 2026 After the break, the Saudis tightened their defense while the Uruguayans went all out on the attack in search of a draw. Celeste, led by Argentine coach Bielsa, lined up chances. The first of them at four minutes: Araújo took a corner directly for Viñas to head towards the goal, but the ball ended up going out. Ten minutes later, Ugarte fired a low shot from the edge of the area and hit the right post of goalkeeper Al-Owais, the Saudi highlight in the final stage. In the 21st minute, the Saudi archer shone again, avoiding the goal with a free kick from Valverde. The Falcões Verdes defended most of the second half. But there was no way and Celeste's pressure materialized in the equalizer in the 34th minute. The play started after a cross inside the area for Viñas, who headed it into the ground. Goalkeeper Al-Owais got to the ball, but it rebounded and Maxi Aráujo took the opportunity to push it into the back of the net. Everything the same at Miami Stadium. The game remained electrifying until the end. The Uruguayans wanted to turn the score around and almost failed. In the 38th minute, striker Bryan Rodríguez advances from the left, adjusts himself and releases a bomb. The ball goes very close to the goal. In the 41st minute, it was the Saudis' turn to almost break the tie. Abdulhamid took the ball from midfield until he shot dangerously from the edge of the area. It was close: the ball went out, but went close to the crossbar. The Saudi momentum stopped there: In the final minutes, with seven added minutes, Uruguay was tireless in search of victory. In the 47th minute, Valverde sent a bomb from outside the area, and goalkeeper Al-Owais saved with class. Two minutes later, after a corner, Cáceres kicked hard, but the ball went wide. And the game ended 1-1.