Does Salem Al-Dawsari play today? Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay at the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Salem Al-Dawsari, Saudi Arabia’s captain and main star, will be the highlight of the duel against Uruguay, this Monday, June 15, at 7pm (Brasília time), at the Hard Rock Stadium, in Miami Gardens. The 34-year-old striker arrives at the 2026 FIFA World Cup motivated to lead the Saudis in search of a new surprise, repeating the historic feat of 2022 against Argentina.

Al-Dawsari, who plays for Al-Hilal, is known for his speed, dribbling and ability to decide individual games. As number 10 and captain, he bears the responsibility of creating chances and exploiting spaces in the Uruguayan defense, especially with Uruguay missing names like Giorgian de Arrascaeta.

Saudi Arabia, 61st in the FIFA rankings, enters as underdogs in Group H, but can count on Al-Dawsari’s experience on big stages. His iconic goal against Argentina in Qatar 2022 still inspires Saudi fans, who fill stadiums and dream of yet another unlikely victory.

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Al-Dawsari is the hope of lethal counterattacks

The veteran has played hundreds of games for the national team and is going through a mature phase at the Saudi club. Under the command of Georgios Donis, he should play on the left wing or centrally, exploiting quick transitions. His presence forces Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay to redouble their attention when marking, especially with full-backs like Guillermo Varela and Matías Viña.

Even with the most technically limited squad, Al-Dawsari gives the Asian team unpredictability. A good performance in the debut could be decisive for Saudi Arabia to score and make life more complicated for the favorites.

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Uruguay arrives favorite despite absences

Celeste, led by Bielsa, has a superior squad with names like Darwin Núñez, Federico Valverde and Fernando Muslera. However, the absences of Arrascaeta and Ronald Araújo open up gaps that Al-Dawsari and company intend to exploit.

The stadium in Miami should have a balanced presence, but with strong Uruguayan support. For Saudi Arabia, the focus is on resisting initial pressure and counterattacking.

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Where to watch live

The broadcast will be from SBT, with streaming options on CazéTV (YouTube), Globoplay, SporTV and platforms such as Betano and NSports.

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Probable lineups

Saudi Arabia(4-4-2): Mohammed Al-Owais; Saud Abdulhamid, Hassan Al-Tambakti, Abdulelah Al-Amri, Moteb Al-Harbi; Abdullah Al-Khaibari, Mohamed Kanno, Musab Al-Juwayr, Salem Al-Dawsari (c); Firas Al-Buraikan, Saleh Al-Shehri. Coach: Georgios Donis.

Uruguay(4-4-2 or 4-3-3): Fernando Muslera; Guillermo Varela, Sebastián Cáceres, Mathías Olivera, Matías Viña; Manuel Ugarte, Rodrigo Bentancur, Federico Valverde, Maximiliano Araújo; Darwin Núñez, Federico Viñas. Coach: Marcelo Bielsa.