Image: from Xinhua Sports X @XHSports
By Open Chronicle with agencies
Saudi Arabia and Uruguay shared the points in an entertaining 1-1 draw on the opening matchday of Group H at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the Middle Eastern side once again proving they can frustrate one of South America’s traditional heavyweights.
Four years after their famous upset against Argentina in Qatar, Saudi Arabia came close to producing another major World Cup shock. Uruguay, one of the tournament’s perennial contenders, looked sluggish for long periods and had to rely on a much-improved second-half display to rescue a point.
Marcelo Bielsa’s side started brightly, with winger Maxi Araújo making an immediate impact in the attack. The Uruguayan forward was lively during the opening exchanges and nearly broke the deadlock with a powerful strike from the edge of the box that forced the Saudi goalkeeper into an early save.
However, Uruguay struggled to maintain that intensity. Stationed on the right flank, Federico Valverde found it difficult to influence the game, limiting the creativity of the South American side. Saudi Arabia, content to defend in a compact low block, allowed Uruguay possession while waiting for opportunities to exploit mistakes.
The match slowed considerably after the opening quarter, with both teams struggling to create clear chances. The Saudis gradually gained confidence following the first-half cooling break and began pushing forward more regularly. Veteran Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera was called into action several times, but he was unable to prevent the opening goal and was left with some responsibility for the sequence that handed Saudi Arabia a deserved lead.
Trailing at the break, Uruguay emerged with renewed urgency after what appeared to be a strong halftime message from Bielsa. The Celeste increased the tempo, pressed higher up the pitch, and began to show the determination and attacking hunger that have long defined South American football on the world stage.
Their persistence eventually paid off as they found the equaliser, ensuring they avoided a damaging opening defeat and keeping Group H finely balanced after the first round of fixtures.
While Saudi Arabia will feel they let a famous victory slip away, the performance underlined their growing reputation as a disciplined and tactically organised tournament team. For Uruguay, the comeback may prove valuable, but Bielsa will know his side must improve significantly if they are to challenge for a deep run in the competition.
With both teams taking a point from an intriguing encounter, the race for qualification in Group H remains wide open heading into the second round of matches.