Saudi Arabia and Uruguay meet on Monday in their 2026 World Cup clash at 11pm (UK time).
The Green Falcons made a statement at the 2022 World Cup with a shock victory over eventual champions Argentina, but still exited at the group stage. Across their six previous appearances, they have progressed beyond the first round only once – doing so in the USA in 1994.
Uruguay, meanwhile, have made history by qualifying for a fifth consecutive World Cup for the first time. The two-time champions, now led by Marcelo Bielsa, are aiming to avoid a second straight group-stage exit after falling at the first hurdle in Qatar four years ago.
This will be the fourth meeting between the sides, with one win each and a draw from their previous encounters. They also met in the group stage in Russia in 2018, when Luis Suarez’s strike secured a 1-0 victory for Uruguay.
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Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay team news
Saudi Arabia team news
Georgios Donis, who replaced Herve Renard on the eve of the tournament, has overseen just one match in charge, that being a friendly defeat by Ecuador. Nevertheless, he’s not completely going into the unknown, having taken charge of four different teams in the Saudi Pro League.
Nawaf Al Aqidi will get the nod in goal after impressing during qualifying, while Hassan Kadesh may just pip Abduleah Al Amri to partner Hassan Al Tambakti in the heart of defence. Saud Abdulhamid could start ahead of Ali Majrashi at right-back.
Salem Al Dawsari – the scorer of the winning goal when Saudi shocked eventual champions Argentina four years ago – should operate on the left wing, with Musab Al Juwayr pulling the strings through the centre, and Firas Al Buraikan leading the line ahead of Saleh Al Shehri and Abdullah Al Hamdan.
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Uruguay team news
Sergio Rochet is likely to get the nod in goal ahead of veteran Fernando Muslera, who is the first Uruguayan player to feature in five World Cup squads. The centre-back pairing of Ronald Araujo and captain Jose Maria Gimenez speaks for itself, while Guillermo Varela may just pip Nahitan Nandez to the right-back spot.
Federico Valverde and Manuel Ugarte should anchor the midfield, while Rodrigo Bentancur’s difficult season at Tottenham Hotspur may just see him miss out. Flamengo’s Giorgian De Arrascaeta will more than likely pull the strings further up the field.
A left-back by trade, Maxi Araujo has been utilised on the left wing by Bielsa, while Facundo Pellestri may be preferred to Agustin Cannobio on the opposite flank, with former Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez leading the line.
Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay predicted lineups
Saudi Arabia (4-2-3-1): Al Aqidi; Abdulhamid, Al Tambakti, Kadesh, Boushal; Kanno, N. Al Dawsari; Al Oboud, Al Juwayr, Al Dawsari; Al Buraikan.
Uruguay (4-2-3-1): Rochet; Varela, R. Araujo, Gimenez, Olivera; Valverde, Ugarte; Pellestri, De Arrascaeta, M. Araujo; Nunez.
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