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WATCH: Maxi Araujo leads RECORD-BREAKING show of Uruguay in 1-1 stalemate against Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay FIFA World Cup 2026 Group H: Uruguay gave it everything but still had to settle for one point each with Saudi Arabia in their opening Group H match of FIFA World Cup 2026 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Monday as their clash ended in a 1-1 draw. Uruguay put up a record-breaking show in the second half of the game but could only manage an equalizer from World Cup debutant Maximiliano Araujo to take one point from the clash. fish-roadgame.com
Uruguay attempted 22 shots on goal in the second half of their game against Saudi Arabia. The last team to attempt more shots in a half of a FIFA World Cup match was East Germany against Chile in 1974 – 24 – but that came in the first half of the match.
WATCH Maximiliano Araujo score equalizer against Saudi Arabia HERE…
Atuação do Maximiliano Araújo, meia lateral uruguaio, vs a Arábia.
Foi especulado no Chelsea durante o jogo, antes e fazer gol por sinal.
— Leo Menezes (@lmenezescfc) June 16, 2026
But the ‘La Celeste’, former World Cup champions, were not pleased with the final result of the game. “We gave it away. We have to be honest,” Uruguay midfielder Federico Valverde said in Spanish after his side played to a 1-1 draw.
“We gave away the first half. We didn’t play the way we had trained. It wasn’t what we were aiming for. We rushed things too much. We wanted to win the game in the very first minute. Sometimes you need a bit more patience and just play our game. We improved a lot in the second half,” Valverde added.
Uruguay had started strongly with Araujo, making his debut on the World Cup stage, forcing a smart save from Mohammed Al Owais before the Saudi goalkeeper produced an even better stop to deny Federico Vinas’s diving header. Saudi Arabia’s goalkeeper Mohammed Al Owais made 9 saves vs Uruguay – the most by any goalkeeper at the 2026 FIFA World Cup so far.
Only Dominik Livakovic (11 vs Brazil, 2022) has made more saves in a single World Cup game in the last three tournaments.
Abdulelah Al-Amri scored on a rebound in the 41st minute for Saudi Arabia and Araujo got the equalizer in the 80th, firing a rebound past goalkeeper Al-Owais from close range.
With Saudi Arabia defending deep in their own half after the break, Uruguay’s intense pressure finally paid off with 10 minutes left in normal time. The Saudi goalkeeper couldn’t hold onto a sharp header from Viñas, allowing Araújo to capitalize on the loose ball and score.
Belgium held to 1-1 draw by Egypt
A star-studded Belgium team featuring the likes of Romelu Lukaku, Kevin de Bruyne and Thibaut Courtois were held to a 1-1 draw by Egypt in their Group G match of FIFA World Cup 2026 at Lumen Field Stadium in Seattle on Monday.
Lukaku entered the field in the 66th minute against Egypt on Monday and the veteran striker made immediate impact by a scoring chance that led to an equalizing own goal, but that was all Belgium could manage.
“No game’s an easy game in the World Cup,” coach Rudi Garcia said in French.
Belgium were expected to handle an Egypt squad that had never won a World Cup game much more easily than this. But the Red Devils were outmaneuvered in the first half, with the speed of Egypt’s younger players. “We know that we had a bad start in the match,” captain Youri Tielemans said.
For the Pharaohs, Emam Ashour had open the scoring in the 20th minute of the game. But Mohammed Hany conceded an own-goal set up by Belgium’s Lukaku in the 66th minute.
“No revenge in football”: Deschamps says France doesn’t want to avenge 2002 loss to Senegal
New Jersey [France], June 16 (ANI): France head coach Didier Deschamps dismissed that the side is in a mood for revenge during their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign against Senegal, the very side which defeated them by a narrow 1-0 margin 24 years ago, setting the tone for France’s shocking group stage exit in the 2002 edition, where they headed as the defending champions.
Kylian Mbappe-led France will start their bid for the third FIFA World Cup star on their shirt as they take on Senegal at New Jersey on Wednesday. Senegal made it to the round of 16 during the last 2022 edition in Qatar and made it to the quarterfinals way back in the 2002 edition. Ahead of the match, Deschamps has expressed that “there is no revenge in football", pointing out that most of the players in the squad were not even born to witness their shocking loss in the WC campaign opener 24 years back.
Ahead of the match, Deschamps told media personnel, “Listen, this was history, but even (midfielder) N’Golo (Kante), I am not sure he saw the game. Nearly all of my players were not born in 2002. I know that you like this word ‘revenge’, but there is no revenge in football."
The 2018 edition champions, who finished as runners-up to a Lionel Messi-led Argentina back in the 2022 edition, will be under a lot of scrutiny in New Jersey, as their captain and superstar striker, Kylian Mbappe, is under immense criticism from experts despite consistent performances in Real Madrid’s two seasons without any major title. That criticism has followed him right to the US, as he failed to score against the Ivory Coast and Northern Ireland in the warm-up friendlies.
Deschamps highlighted that Senegal is a team with “excellent players who play in the best clubs".
“They have got an offensive capacity, their midfield is excellent. When you are part of the best teams, you have got everything," he added.
The 35-year-old Kante, a crucial part of France’s WC winning 2018 squad, is back in the side after giving the previous World Cup a miss due to injury and expects a tough battle with Senegal in the midfield.
“We want to be part of this squad and to have everyone on board, everybody counts, everybody is important. I do believe that it is important to have trust in our team. We need to go as far as possible in the competition … Of course, our main opponent is ourselves. We need to stay together, concentrated," signed off Kante. (ANI)
(This content is sourced from a syndicated feed and is published as received. The Tribune assumes no responsibility or liability for its accuracy, completeness, or content.)
Despite FIFA ban, Iranian fans display pre-revolutionary flags at WC match in Los Angeles
Los Angeles [US], June 16 (ANI): Iran supporters in the ongoing World Cup defied FIFA’s ban by displaying the pre-revolutionary Iranian flag inside SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
Ahead of Iran’s tournament opener against the New Zealand national football team on Monday, hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the stadium to protest against the Iranian government, as per the New York Post website.
Inside the venue, the pre-revolutionary flag was visible throughout the crowd, with fans displaying it on banners, flags and T-shirts despite FIFA’s ruling.
FIFA stated the pre-revolutionary flag displays appeared to violate FIFA’s code of conduct, which states that “banners, flags, flyers, apparel and other paraphernalia that are political, offensive and/or discriminatory in nature" are prohibited at tournament venues under regulations announced in May.
Security at SoFi Stadium was visibly stringent, with spectators required to pass through metal detectors and bag inspections before entering.
The security personnel asked one group of fans wearing T-shirts featuring the pre-revolutionary Iranian flag to remove them. When the supporters said they had no alternative clothing, they were instructed to turn the shirts inside out.
Despite those measures, enforcement appeared limited once fans entered the stadium. The pre-revolutionary flag remained widely visible throughout the stands, displayed on flags, banners and clothing during the match.
Some Iranian fans also turned their backs to the field when the national anthem was played. (ANI)
(This content is sourced from a syndicated feed and is published as received. The Tribune assumes no responsibility or liability for its accuracy, completeness, or content.)
Ashok Sharma Replaces Injured Yudhvir Singh in India A Squad for Tri-Series
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India A have drafted fast bowler Ashok Sharma into their squad for the ongoing 50-over tri-series in Sri Lanka after pacer Yudhvir Singh was ruled out with an injury. The 23-year-old speedster will join the Tilak Varma-led side for the remainder of the tournament.
Ashok is expected to link up with the squad in Dambulla ahead of India A’s crucial final league-stage fixture against Afghanistan A. The team, which is competing against Sri Lanka A and Afghanistan A, is looking to revive its campaign after suffering a narrow Super Over defeat to the hosts.
The Rajasthan-born pacer has emerged as one of the most exciting fast-bowling prospects in Indian cricket. Known for consistently clocking high speeds, Ashok grabbed attention during IPL 2026 while representing the Gujarat Titans, claiming six wickets in six matches and regularly bowling above 150 kmph.
His rise has been built on strong domestic performances as well. Ashok created history in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy by taking 22 wickets, breaking an 11-year-old tournament record and finishing as the leading wicket-taker of the season.
The pacer’s journey has included stints with several IPL franchises. He was first picked up by Kolkata Knight Riders in 2022 before spending time with Rajasthan Royals and eventually making his breakthrough with Gujarat Titans. His India A selection is being viewed as another significant step in his development.
With India A facing a must-win situation in the tri-series, Ashok’s pace and wicket-taking ability could provide a timely boost to the bowling attack as the team pushes for a place in the final.
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