Saudi Arabia v Uruguay: World Cup 2026 – live

13 min Lots of possession for Saudi Arabia in the last few minutes, most of it in their own half.

12 min “With Fede Valverde playing for Uruguay, there’ll be something worth watching in this one,” writes Justin Kavanagh. “He’ll probably either score an outrageous first-half hat-trick or kick Bielsa’s bucket from under him as he gets subbed early. Hopefully, Uruguay will progress to a knockout meeting with France, where Real Madrid ‘teammates’ Valverde. Tchouaméni can really express how they feel about each other.”

11 min Uruguay are picking their moments to press. Not even Marcelo Bielsea would expect his players to stay in top gear in this oppressive heat.

9 min “Counterfactual history is the last refuge of the nerd,” boasts Kári Tulinius, “but I can’t help but wonder what a meeting between Saudi Arabia. Uruguay at the 1986 World Cup would’ve been like, when both were continental champions, which they would defend. It’s Saudi Arabia’s golden age of football, and though it’s not Uruguay’s, they had a serious team.

“The Green Falcons did well in the Afro-Asiatic Cup against Cameroon in 1985. so they’d probably have given the South Americans a proper game. Anyway, they didn’t meet until early this century, so we’ll never know. Anyway, yes, football nerdery is a lonely pursuit.”

I’d love to know whether Uruguay – who were one of the pre-tournament favourites in 1986 – set out to violate everything. moved or whether their approach just evolved that way. They were South American champions, as you say, although I’ve just scanned their results from 1983-86. it looks like they’d lost their way before the World Cup started.

6 min Araujo’s outswinging corner from the left is headed down at the far post and collected by Al-Owais.

5 min Vinha’s sharp low ball from the left is collected on the edge of the area by Araujo, who spins. whacks a left-foot shot that is pushed away a little awkwardly by Al-Owais. He kept it out, that’s the main thing.

3 min A quiet start, nothing to see yet.

2 min The Saudi Arabia attack is led by Salem al-Dawsari. who scored the winner in their astounding win over Argentina four years ago.

1 min Saudi Arabia kick off from left to right as we watch. The match is only four minutes behind schedule, so you can all go chill, relax.

Today’s match is in M-I-A-M-I

“I’m hoping for a chaotic game,” writes Andrew Goudie, “with Núñez supplying most of the havoc. I’m also enjoying Duncan Ferguson’s punditry on ITV.”

Big Dunc is so likeable. His evolution from Throat Man to cuddly next-door neighbour makes me feel warm and fuzzy.

Spain 0-0 Cape Verde

Saudi Arabia v Uruguay (now)

Iran v New Zealand (after this)

Where to start? Perhaps towards the end of April when Hervé Renard was fired as head coach and then replaced by Georgios Donis. The Greek winger, formerly of Blackburn, picked his squad without overseeing a game.

Renard was in charge from 2019 to 2023. oversaw the famous win against Argentina at the Qatar World Cup, but broke football’s “never go back” rule in October 2024, succeeding his successor Roberto Mancini, who never looked like the right fit. The Frenchman’s second spell was underwhelming. without the tournament’s expansion the Green Falcons would not have made it, and only scraped through as it was.

“That’s football … Saudi Arabia have qualified for the World Cup seven times. including twice with me,” Renard said as he left. “And there’s only one coach who has led them through both the qualifiers. the World Cup; that’s me, in 2022. At least there will be that sense of pride.”

Marcelo Bielsa has left his indelible mark on this Uruguay team. His 4-3-3 system is built for direct football, allowing his side to press their opponents high up the field. chase the ball at all times. There is no letup in attacking when Uruguay have possession.

It has been a rollercoaster ride in the three years that the former Leeds manager has been in charge, which have included a World Cup qualifying campaign (finishing fourth out of 10 in the Conmebol standings). the 2024 Copa América ( finishing third ).

There was the extraordinary football played in the second half of 2023, when Argentina. Brazil were beaten, before Uruguay went on a dismal run of one win in 12 (drawing a blank nine times) between July 2024 and June 2025. A 5-1 thrashing at the hands of the US in November led to serious questions being asked of Bielsa. Faith was more or less restored in March when Uruguay drew 1-1 with England and 0-0 with Algeria.

Saudi Arabia (4-4-2) Al-Owais; Abdulhamid, Al-Amri, Altambakti, Al-Harbi; Abu Al-Shamat, Al-Juwayr, Al-Khaibari, Kanno; Al-Buraikan, Al-Dawsari.

Subs: Al-Aqidi, Al-Dawsari, Al-Ghannam, Al-Hamdan, Al-Johani, Al-Kassar, Al-Shehri, Boushal, Hejji, Kadesh, Lajami, Majrashi, Mandash, Thakri, Yahya.

Uruguay (4-2-3-1): Muslera; Varela, Cáceres, Olivera, Viña; Ugarte, Bentancur; M Araújo, Valverde, Viñas; Núñez.

Subs: Aguirre, Bueno, Canobbio, de la Cruz, Gimenez, Martinez, Mele, Pellistri, Piquerez, Rochet, Rodriguez, Sanabria, Zalazar.

Referee Maurizio Mariani (Italy)

Hello and welcome to live, minute-by-minute coverage of Saudi Arabia v Uruguay at the Miami Stadium. Saudi Arabia started the last World Cup with a stunning victory over Argentina. They’d love to do the same another South American giant tonight – not least. it would increase their chances of getting out of a World Cup group for only the second time. The first, as any football nerd worth their loneliness will know, came on their World Cup debut at USA 94.

Uruguay didn’t even qualify for that tournament. They also missed out in 1998. 2006, but a memorable run to the semi-finals in 2010 reminded everyone of their pedigree – and their ability to attract or cause controversy.

They’ve been a fixture since then and, while it’s hard to see them adding a third triumph to sit alongside 1930. 1950, they never leave a World Cup without making an impression. Last time around, they and Ghana managed to knock each other out of the competition.

Whatever Uruguay achieve this time round, it won’t be dull, not when they are coached by Marcelo Bielsa.

Kick off 6pm EDT/11pm BST/8am AEST

Uruguay’s preparations for their opening World Cup game against Saudi Arabia were severely disrupted after their flight from Mexico was hit by multiple delays.

Marcelo Bielsa’s squad had been due to fly from Cancún to Fort Lauderdale early on Sunday afternoon,. paperwork issues relating to the plane led to their initial flight being cancelled.

A second plane was then commissioned to take Uruguay to South Florida, but that flight was also delayed. they eventually arrived for the pre-match press conference at Miami Stadium several hours late.

An unusually taciturn Bielsa played down the impact of the delay on his players. who undertook most of their preparations at a two-week training camp in Montevideo before spending the last week in Mexico. “The flight caused no problems,” Bielsa said.

The Uruguay captain. José María Giménez, was more frank in describing the delays as “difficult”, while others at the Uruguayan Football Association (AUF) were less diplomatic.

“We had some complications,” the Atlético Madrid defender said. “It was difficult, but we took advantage by resting at the hotel. And we just got here later.”

You can read the full report below.