Saudi Arabia 1-1 Uruguay - 2026 FIFA World Cup result as Maximiliano Araujo ensures shares are spoiled after Abdulelah Al-Amri's opener

Maximiliano Araujo’s 80th minute goal ensured Uruguay at least left their opening clash against Saudi Arabia with a point.

The two-time World Cup winners were poor in the first half and Saudi Arabia, though attacking less frequently, did so with more panache and were rewarded with Abdulelah Al-Amri's opener, after Fernando Muslera parried Mohamed Kanno's header, four minutes before the break.

Uruguay emerged a far more purposeful outfit and forced goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais to nine saves in all, though he could only look and hope as Manuel Ugarte’s low drive came back off the post from 25 yards out on the hour mark.

Unfortunately, when the South Americans finally got level, Al-Owais should have done better than pushing Federico Vinas’ effort to Araujo who slotted home from a narrow angle, six yards out.

La Celeste boss Marcelo Bielsa would have faced heavy criticism had the equaliser not arrived, but he is likely to still face some fan ire after immediately removing the goalscorer immediately after the goal went in.

Al-Owais still had time to tip wide a typical low curling effort from Federico Valverde before the final whistle went to confirm the second draw in Group H - after Cabo Verde’s incredible draw with Spain earlier.

Uruguay will feel their glut of efforts in the second half should have seen them win but the heroic efforts of their defenders and goalkeeper deserved reward.

Al-Owais makes his ninth save of the match at his near post.

The Saudis were slow to close down a corner passed to Valverde near the left angle of the penalty area and his curling low effort looked goalbound before another key intervention from the goalkeeper.

Before a corner?
Al-Hamddan, Al-Lajami and Al-Heiji all come on, with Al-Buraikan, Al-Harbi and Abdulhamid leaving proceedings.

Sanabria with another good cross from the left flank and De La Cruz meets it with a firm strike but the keeper saves from point-blank range.

Not long for the attacker to make an impact.

Finally Saudi Arabia manage to string a number of passes together in the Uruguay half and the full-back's effort from 25 yards is not a bad one but a yard high and wide of the angle of post and bar.

But Al-Owais does well to punch the ball to safety. It is back to the walls stuff for the Saudis now. They cannot keep the ball at present.

The first touch of the Uruguayan substitute is a good one, but his shot from the edge of the area flies a yard or so wide of the far post.

But he puts it over the bar.

Bielsa had seen enough and brings off his goalscorer.

Vinas' header from Sanabria's cross was straight at Al-OWais but he could only parry the ball and Araujo then put the ball home from a tight angle.

But Albrikan gets in front of him to block the shot.

He met Valverde's corner with a header which crashed into the near side-netting - fooling those on the other side of the ground.

He was so close to getting his side back into the game.