Two out of two for surprises in the 8th band of the 2026 World Cup. After the 0–0 which took Cape Verde from Spain at the group premiere, Saudi Arabia took a series. With George Donis at their helm, the "Green Hawks" earned a "gold" grade from Uruguay (1-1) to "Mayi Standium", taking an important step to find themselves in the "32" of the tournament.
The players of the Greek technician did not just "look into the eyes" Uruguay in the first 45 minutes, but managed to enter the locker room with the lead in the score. Al Nasr's 29-year-old defender, Al Amri, took advantage of Muslera's temporary rebuttal on a header of Al Haibari and close "wrote" 1–0 in the 41st minute.
With two changes made at the beginning of the second place Bielsa, Uruguay played it all for everything. In 60's Ugarte's tight shot stopped at the root of the right beam (he found the ball a bit and Oweis), while in 67' the goalkeeper of S. Arabia said "no" in the direct foul of Valverde.
She kept pushing in all ways "Celeste" and in 80' managed to reach stio 1-1 with Araho's shot after Al Oweis' temporary intervention on Vinya's head.
At 90' and 93' again Al Oweis was in the right position removing save equal shots of Valverde.
Referee: M. Mariani (Italy)
Yellow: Al Amri
The compositions of the two groups:
SAUDI ARABIA (Giorgos Donis): Al Oweis, Al Amri, Al Tabakti, Abdulhamid (90'+2 Lajami), Al Harbi (90'+2 Al Hamdan), Al Samat (81' Bou Wasl), Al Juvire (63' Nasser Al Dausari), Al Haibari, Cano, Salem Al Dausari, Al Brican (90'+2 Al Haji)
URUGUAI (Marsello Bielsa): Muslera, Casseres, Varela, Olivera, Vinia (90' Aguire), Ugarte (72' De la Crews), Bentancourt, Valverde, Araho (81' Rodrigues), Nunes (46' Canopium), Vinias (46' Sanabria)