World Cup Desk – The “Group of Upsets” has lived up to its name once again. After minnows Cape Verde pulled off a massive shock by holding tournament favorites Spain to a goalless draw, the other Group H fixture between Uruguay and Saudi Arabia also ended in a stalemate on Tuesday morning (BST).
However, it was heartbreak for Saudi Arabia, who led for most of the match before conceding late in the second half.
Driven by massive financial investments in recent years, Saudi Arabia has shaken up global football by luring superstars like Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, alongside rising talents from Brazil and Portugal, to their domestic Pro League.
The Green Falcons brought that same high-intensity, elite confidence onto the pitch against South American giants Uruguay.
In the match that kicked off at 4:00 AM Bangladesh Time in Miami, USA, the Asian representatives took a surprising but well-deserved lead in the 41st minute.
It was Abdulelah Al-Amri who found the back of the net to put Saudi Arabia ahead before halftime.
Known for their disciplined defensive setups, the Middle Eastern side doubled down on their defense in the second half. They brilliantly absorbed immense pressure, thwarting 26 relentless attacks from the Uruguayan frontline.
Goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais was in spectacular form, reminiscent of his legendary performance against Argentina in the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
The 34-year-old shot-stopper, who currently plays for Pro League club Al-Ula, made a string of world-class saves.
However, Saudi Arabia’s resilience was finally broken in the 80th minute when Maximiliano Araújo managed to slip past the defense and find the equalizer.
The match ended 1-1, forcing the potential 2034 World Cup hosts, Saudi Arabia, to share points with Uruguay.
It wasn’t just a night of surprises in Group H; Tuesday turned out to be a night of drama across the 2026 World Cup groups. In Group G, Egypt and Belgium also played out a 1-1 draw.
Egypt took an early lead in the 20th minute through Emam Ashour, but a costly own goal by Mohamed Hany in the 66th minute forced the Pharaohs to settle for a single point.