Uruguay

Saudi Arabia, Uruguay lock horns in Group H battle.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup Group H match, Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay, kicks off at 23:00 [GMT+1] on Monday, June 15, at Miami Stadium. Maurizio Mariani [ITA] will be the referee for this match, while Marco Di Bello [ITA] will be the VAR. Saudi Arabia will look to channel the spirit of their unforgettable 2022 World Cup opener in this contest, hoping another shock result against South American opposition can ignite their campaign in North America. The Green Falcons produced one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history four years ago when they defeated eventual champions Argentina 2-1 in their opening match. That victory remains one of the defining moments in Saudi Arabian football, but they arrive at this tournament with far less momentum. A managerial change shortly before the finals has added uncertainty, with Georgios Donis taking charge less than two months before their opening fixture. The Green One has struggled for consistency in 2026, winning just one match this calendar year [LLLWD]. Despite those concerns, history offers encouragement. Their best-ever World Cup performance came in the United States in 1994 when they reached the Round of 16, and they will hope a return to American soil can inspire another memorable campaign. The head-to-head record between these nations is perfectly balanced, with each side recording one victory alongside a draw. Saudi Arabia will be without goalkeeper Nawaf Al Aqidi due to a muscle injury. Musab Al-Juwayr and Firas Al-Buraikan may partner upfront in a 4—4—2 pattern against La Celeste. Uruguay, meanwhile, arrive with questions of their own despite possessing one of the most talented squads in the group. For the first time in more than two decades, La Celeste enter a World Cup without legendary forwards Luis Suárez and Edinson Cavani, marking the beginning of a new era under Marcelo Bielsa. The South Americans impressed early in CONMEBOL qualifying, recording notable victories over both Brazil and Argentina. However, their momentum faded significantly as qualification progressed. Uruguay dropped points in nine of their final 12 qualifiers [3W, 6D, 3L] and failed to score in eight of those matches, exposing concerns about their attacking efficiency. Those struggles have continued in recent friendlies [WDLDD], with La Celeste scoring only twice across their last four warm-up games and failing to win any of them [0W, 3D, 1L]. Ronald Araújo is expected to miss this match while Giorgian de Arrascaeta is unlikely to feature during the group stage. A 4—4—1—1 formation with Darwin Núñez on the frontline may be seen against Saudi Arabia.