World Cup 2026: Saudi Arabia aim to upset Uruguay as Group H campaign begins

Saudi Arabia and Uruguay will begin their World Cup 2026 journeys on Monday when they meet in a Group H encounter that brings together two nations seeking to add another chapter to their respective tournament histories.

The fixture marks a reunion between teams that previously faced each other at the World Cup, while also presenting a fresh opportunity for both sides to launch their campaigns with a positive result.

For Saudi Arabia, the occasion revives memories of previous World Cup achievements and disappointments. The Kingdom is participating in its seventh World Cup finals and continues to pursue a return to the heights reached during its debut appearance in 1994, when it advanced to the round of 16 in the United States.

Since then, Saudi Arabia has become a regular presence on football’s biggest stage, missing only the 2010 and 2014 editions. However, progression beyond the group phase has remained elusive.

The Saudis will take encouragement from more recent World Cup memories. Their famous victory over Argentina in Qatar demonstrated their ability to challenge established football powers and produced one of the tournament’s most memorable results.

As they prepare to face another South American heavyweight, the belief remains that they are capable of causing another surprise.

The team enters the competition under the guidance of Hervé Renard, who has returned to lead the national side after previously leaving the position before being recalled.

Standing in their way is a Uruguay side eager to re-establish itself among the world’s elite football nations. The South Americans are appearing in the World Cup for the 15th time and continue their pursuit of a first global title in 76 years.

Uruguay have enjoyed several memorable campaigns since their triumphs in the early years of the competition, but recent generations have fallen short of reaching another final.

Their best modern performance came in South Africa in 2010, when a team featuring Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez reached the semi-finals.

Despite that success, Uruguay have been unable to surpass that achievement in subsequent tournaments.

Under experienced coach Marcelo Bielsa, hopes are high that the current squad can mount a serious challenge. Before dreaming of a deep run, however, Uruguay must first navigate a difficult opening test against a motivated Saudi Arabian side.

History may offer some encouragement for the South Americans. The only previous World Cup meeting between the two nations came in Russia in 2018, when Uruguay emerged victorious in the group stage.

This latest encounter provides Saudi Arabia with an opportunity to rewrite that narrative while giving Uruguay the chance to begin its campaign with a familiar result.

The match will be played at Miami Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 22:00 GMT.