Giorgos Donis' Saudi Arabia draw 1-1 with Uruguay in historic World Cup opener

Saudi Arabia and Uruguay opened their 2026 World Cup campaigns with a 1-1 draw at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami early on Tuesday (European time). The result left all four teams in Group 8 level on one point after Spain and Cape Verde played a goalless draw earlier.

Historic night for Donis

For Giorgos Donis, the 56-year-old Greek coach of Saudi Arabia, the evening carried a weight far beyond the scoreline. With the first whistle, he became only the second Greek manager to take charge of a team at a men’s World Cup finals, after Alketas Panagoulias, who led Greece in 1994. Donis is the first to do so with a foreign national side, and the goal his team scored was the first ever registered by a Greek-coached team on the World Cup stage.

Saudi Arabia stun with disciplined display

Donis’s side executed a near-flawless defensive plan against Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay, who dominated possession but found few clear openings. Saudi Arabia’s goalkeeper Al Owais made a series of important saves, including a close-range header from Viñas and a powerful long drive by Ugarte that struck the post. At the other end, veteran Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, 40, gifted the opening goal in the 41st minute when he failed to hold a corner. Al Amri pounced on the rebound to score from close range, sending the Saudi bench into wild celebration.

Giorgos Donis celebrated with raised fists alongside his staff and substitutes.

Uruguay recover late

Uruguay increased the pressure after the break, but the Saudi defensive shape remained compact. The equaliser arrived in the 80th minute. A cross from Olivera was headed by Viñas; Al Owais parried, but Maxi Araújo smashed the rebound into the net with a diagonal shot. The late goal prevented what would have been a significant upset, but Saudi Arabia held on for a point.

Group of surprises

The Group 8 standings are now balanced. Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Spain and debutants Cape Verde each have one point, with the group’s first round concluding without a winner. The result leaves the group wide open ahead of the second matchday.