Saudi Arabia opened their 2026 World Cup campaign with a 1-1 draw against Uruguay in Miami — and a decade ago, a result like that would have felt like a fantasy. It doesn't anymore.
The Green Falcons were 59 days into a new coaching era under Greek manager Georgios Donis, having sacked Herve Renard — the man who masterminded that seismic win over Argentina in 2022. Replacing a coach that late before a tournament opener is the kind of decision that tends to backfire spectacularly. It nearly didn't.
Saudi Arabia were closing in on a genuine win when Maxi Araujo equalised in the 80th minute. "Defensively it was very cohesive, in terms of the distances, the shape and between the lines," said former Scotland defender Rachel Corsie on BBC Radio 5 Live. That's not a description you'd have associated with this team in previous World Cups.
A side built almost entirely in Saudi Arabia
Ten of the eleven starters against Uruguay play their club football in the Saudi Pro League. The only exception is defender Saud Abdulhamid at Lens. This is no longer a squad of journeymen — it's a generation that has grown up training alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Sadio Mane, and Neymar.
Whether that proximity to elite-level talent transfers into international results is the real question the Saudi football federation has been betting on. On Monday, the early evidence suggested it does.
Abdulelah al Amri — Ronaldo's team-mate at Al-Nassr — became the first defender to score for Saudi Arabia at a World Cup, heading home from a corner. Their first goal from a corner in World Cup history. It was also their first time opening the scoring in a World Cup match since beating Belgium in 1994 — a run of 16 consecutive matches without taking the lead in the competition.
- Salem al Dawsari, 34, is playing his third World Cup after scoring iconic winners against Egypt (2018) and Argentina (2022)
- Musab al Juwayr, 22, led Saudi Arabia's World Cup qualifying with three assists and is seen as the long-term heartbeat of the team
- Al Amri scored only his second international goal — his first came on debut in a friendly against Kuwait in March 2021
More than £700m spent — and the taps aren't off yet
The Saudi Pro League has poured over £700m into overseas signings in recent years. Benzema, Neymar, Mane, Riyad Mahrez — the league bought names that would have seemed absurd just five years ago. Ronaldo recently scored his 100th goal in the competition. "The Saudi league is better than MLS," he said when he arrived in 2023. Mane called it "watched by everybody in the world."
The spending is evolving. The focus has shifted slightly toward younger players with sell-on value rather than pure marquee signings — but sources in Riyadh suggest the funds for one more veteran superstar remain. Mohamed Salah, fresh off his Liverpool exit, is wanted by Al-Ittihad. The price has to be right, but this is a country that has hosted a World Cup in 2034. The urgency to build credibility — domestically and internationally — isn't going away.
For Saudi Arabia's World Cup odds, the draw against Uruguay is a useful baseline. They're competitive, they're organised, and they can score from set pieces. That's more than most expected from a team eight days into a new tactical setup under Donis.
From 8-0 against Germany in 2002 to pressing Uruguay for a win in 2026. The trajectory is real — even if the finishing still needs work.
