Match report
Saudi Arabia 1-1 Uruguay: Late Araujo Equaliser Leaves Group H Level
Saudi Arabia were close to opening Group H with a statement win before Uruguay rescued a point late. The 1-1 draw in Miami, with Ali Al-Amri scoring first and Maxi Araujo levelling in the final minutes, means the entire group ends the first round on one point.
Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay final score
Final score: Saudi Arabia 1, Uruguay 1. Al-Amri gave Saudi Arabia the lead in the first half, and Araujo equalised late to prevent Uruguay from opening with defeat.
The Guardian's live report framed Saudi Arabia as organized and dangerous enough to make Uruguay work for almost everything. Uruguay controlled long stretches of possession, but the second goal never arrived because the opener itself never came until the closing stages.
That leaves Saudi Arabia with a point that feels valuable and Uruguay with a point that feels like recovery rather than control.
How Group H changed
Group H is completely level on points after the opening round because Spain drew 0-0 with Cabo Verde earlier in the day. Uruguay and Saudi Arabia sit slightly ahead of Spain and Cabo Verde only because their match produced goals.
That means Uruguay and Saudi Arabia leave the day with a narrow scoring edge, but not with real separation. One win on the second matchday could still reorder everything.
Saudi Arabia therefore did more than frustrate a stronger opponent. They kept themselves fully attached to both the top-two race and any potential best-third-place route.
Qualification picture
Saudi Arabia's next match against Spain now carries major leverage. A positive result there would give them a direct edge over one of the tournament favorites and move them close to the round of 32 conversation.
Uruguay face Cabo Verde next, and that game is suddenly more pressurized than expected. Another draw would leave Uruguay exposed to a final-round scramble rather than in early control of the group.
Because every team has one point, Group H remains one of the hardest sections to read after one round. The second matchday should finally create some table shape.
Key players and talking points
Al-Amri delivered the headline Saudi moment because his goal turned an underdog performance into a result with real table value. Araujo did the same job for Uruguay at the other end by preventing an opening defeat.
The broader takeaway is that Saudi Arabia were comfortable without the ball for long stretches and still created enough danger to justify the point. Uruguay had more of the game, but not enough of the scoreboard.
No reliable post-match injury update was confirmed across the source reviewed, so this report keeps the focus on the verified scoreline, the late equaliser and the fact that Group H is still completely open.