Bielsa disappointed with the draw

Uruguay manager Marcelo Bielsa shared his thoughts after the 1-1 draw against Saudi Arabia in the opening round of the World Cup group stage, with Maximiliano Araujo's 80th-minute goal the only thing preventing a damaging defeat.

"This is an opponent we should have beaten! At certain moments in the first half our team was not in the match. That shows we didn't play in the best way, but even so we should have won," Bielsa said. "I'm not sure whether the substitutions changed the course of the match, or whether there were other factors," the eccentric coach added.

Uruguay's next group match is against Cape Verde on June 22, with their final group game against Spain on June 27.

World Cup

2026

• #
  Team
  P
  Pts
• #
  Team
  P
  Pts
• 1

  

  Uruguay

  1

  1
  1

  

  Uruguay

  1

  1
• 2

  

  Saudi Arabia

  1

  1
  2

  

  Saudi Arabia

  1

  1
• 3

  

  Spain

  1

  1
  3

  

  Spain

  1

  1
• 4

  

  Cape Verde

  1

  1
  4

  

  Cape Verde

  1

  1

Play-offs

Possible play-offs