Uruguay vs Saudi Arabia
Miami Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
Monday, June 15th, 6 p.m. ET
Uruguay kick off their World Cup campaign against Saudi Arabia, who are remembered for stunning eventual champions Argentina in the opening stages of the 2022 tournament. The Green Falcons have once again booked their place at a World Cup, but another major upset against South American opposition looks an equally mighty task this time around.
Saudi Arabia comes into the tournament with plenty of concerns. They sacked their manager just two months ago, have only one player in the squad currently playing abroad, and appear to lack some of the experience and quality of previous generations. Even more concerning is their recent form, with their only win in 2026 coming against Puerto Rico, who sit 154th in the FIFA rankings.
Uruguay, meanwhile, has taken a different approach in preparation, opting against playing friendlies in the build-up to the tournament. That could prove to be a smart strategy, allowing Marcelo Bielsa to keep tactical ideas under wraps while maintaining his squad’s fitness levels for the games that matter.
Qualification was also encouraging for Uruguay. They finished above Brazil in the South American standings with a +10 goal difference despite facing the likes of Argentina, Brazil and Colombia twice throughout the campaign. Ranked 16th in the world by FIFA, this is a side that should arrive full of confidence.
Bielsa’s men have also produced solid results in their only two matches of 2026, drawing 1-1 with England and 0-0 against a defensively organized Algeria side, performances in which they arguably deserved more.
The experience and quality within this Uruguay squad, led by players such as Federico Valverde, Darwin Núñez and José Giménez, looks far too strong for Saudi Arabia. At odds of -136, Uruguay -1.0 on the Asian Handicap is my preferred way to back them in their opening match.
World Cup Best Bet: Uruguay vs Saudi Arabia – Uruguay –1.0 Asian Handicap -136
