# Uruguay National Team — World Cup 2026 News Summary
## Opening Match: Saudi Arabia 1–1 Uruguay (June 15, 2026)
Uruguay kicked off their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign in Group H with a 1–1 draw against Saudi Arabia at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. Saudi Arabia took the lead through **Abdulelah Al-Amri** in the first half, and it looked like the Middle Eastern side might pull off another famous World Cup upset. However, **Maxi Araújo** struck late to rescue a point for the two-time world champions, denying Saudi Arabia the win.
Goalkeeper **Mohammed Al-Owais** was the standout performer for Saudi Arabia, making several key saves to keep Uruguay at bay for most of the match.
## Travel Disruptions Before Kickoff
Uruguay’s preparations were disrupted when the squad’s original flight to the United States was grounded due to administrative issues and missing paperwork. The team had to scramble to arrange alternative travel and arrived in Miami less than 24 hours before kickoff — a far-from-ideal start to their tournament.
## Squad and Key Players
Manager **Marcelo Bielsa**, in charge since 2023, selected a 26-man squad headlined by:
* **Federico Valverde** (Real Madrid) — The 27-year-old midfielder is the heartbeat of this Uruguay side, a multiple Champions League winner and one of the most complete midfielders in world football.
* **Darwin Núñez** (Al-Hilal) — Uruguay’s top scorer in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying with five goals. Moved from Liverpool to Al-Hilal in 2025 but remains prolific at international level.
* **Ronald Araujo** (Barcelona) — The defensive anchor, bringing strength, leadership, and extensive international experience.
* **Manuel Ugarte** (Manchester United) — One of the best defensive midfielders in European football at just 25 years old.
* **José María Giménez** — The captain, on the verge of 100 international caps.
* **Fernando Muslera** — The veteran goalkeeper, still part of the squad.
**Notable absence:** **Luis Suárez** was omitted from the squad, missing a World Cup for the first time since South Africa 2010.
## Remaining Group H Schedule
* **June 21** — Uruguay vs. Cape Verde
* **June 26** — Uruguay vs. Spain
Uruguay will need to improve on their opening draw as they face Cape Verde next before a tough final group match against Spain.
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_Sources:_
* [Al Jazeera — Uruguay squad lands in US after flight delay](https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2026/6/15/uruguay-squad-lands-in-us-after-flight-delay-ahead-of-world-cup-opener)
* [Sky Sports — Saudi Arabia 1-1 Uruguay](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/13552712/world-cup-2026-saudi-arabia-1-1-uruguay-maxi-araujo-levels-late-but-goalkeeper-mohammed-al-owais-is-the-hero)
* [ESPN — Saudi Arabia 1-1 Uruguay](https://www.espn.com/soccer/match/\_/gameId/760429/uruguay-saudi-arabia)
* [FourFourTwo — Uruguay World Cup 2026 squad](https://www.fourfourtwo.com/team/uruguay-world-cup-2026-squad)
* [beIN SPORTS — Uruguay announce 2026 FIFA World Cup squad](https://www.beinsports.com/en-us/soccer/fifa-world-cup-2026/articles/marcelo-bielsa-s-official-uruguay-squad-for-the-2026-fifa-world-cup-2026-05-31)
* [Olympics.com — Uruguay at FIFA World Cup 2026](https://www.olympics.com/en/news/fifa-world-cup-2026-uruguay-players-squad-key-stats-schedule)