Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay: World Cup 2026 preview

Saudi Arabia face Uruguay on 15 Jun 2026, kicking off at 18:00 EST (22:00 GMT) in Miami. The Saudis remain remembered for their shock win over Argentina at the 2022 World Cup, though OPTA gives them just a 0.05% chance of winning the 2026 tournament. Uruguay’s route to the finals was uneven, finishing fourth in CONMEBOL qualifying.

Georgios Donis leads Saudi Arabia, with veteran captain Salem Al‑Dawsari a focal point and 22‑year‑old Musab Al‑Juwayr set to influence midfield. Lens right‑back Saud Abdulhamid is the only squad member based at a club outside Saudi Arabia. Marcelo Bielsa coaches Uruguay, who have moved on from Luis Suárez and Edinson Cavani and now depend on midfield workhorses such as Federico Valverde, Manuel Ugarte and Rodrigo Bentancur, while Ronald Araújo and José María Giménez anchor the defence.

Bielsa’s high‑intensity 4‑3‑3 and aggressive pressing produced 147 high turnovers during qualifying.

saudi arabia, uruguay, world cup, 2026, miami, georgios donis, salem al-dawsari, musab al-juwayr, marcelo bielsa, federico valverde