World Cup live updates: Saudi Arabia v. Uruguay was a tie, but a win for Miami
The day has come: South Florida is hosting its first FIFA World Cup match with Uruguay and Saudi Arabia scheduled to kick off at 6 p.m. on Monday at Hard Rock Stadium (which has been renamed Miami Stadium and stripped of all non-FIFA corporate branding for the duration of the five-week tournament).
The Miami Herald will keep you updated on what is going on inside the stadium as soon as the gates open in this live updates blog.
Cote: Historic night for Miami and World Cup as Saudis, Uruguay tie 1-1 | Opinion
The thick book chronicling the broad history of major sports in South Florida may start to be written now. We are complete. The one glaring chapter that had been missing began to write itself Monday night with color and pageantry as Miami was home to a soccer match in the FIFA World Cup for the first time.
We have hosted the biggest stages across most every sport imaginable, but never before the biggest stage of them all in the most popular sport worldwide — the only game for which the whole planet cheers with a fervor that sounds and feels more like worship.
-- Greg Cote
Read the entire story: Cote: Historic night for Miami and World Cup as Saudis, Uruguay tie 1-1 | Opinion
Saudi Arabia strikes first, ties favored Uruguay 1-1 in World Cup opener in Miami
Miami Gardens felt like Montevideo on Monday as a sea of Uruguayan soccer fans, many with giant blue and white striped flags draped over their shoulders, nearly packed Hard Rock Stadium for their World Cup opening match against Saudi Arabia. The crowd of 62,764 was awash in light blue as fans chanted “U-ru-guay! U-ru-guay!” while a spirited section of Saudi fans in the south stands waved green flags and cheered.
-- Michelle Kaufman
Read the full story: Saudi Arabia strikes first in World Cup opener vs. favored Uruguay in Miami
Referees debut Miami-inspired uniforms
Referees in any sport, including soccer, are supposed to be inconspicuous. By game’s end, the less attention paid to them, the better they did.
But during Monday’s Uruguay-Saudi Arabia match, FIFA made it impossible not to notice them. The referees Miami uniform included bright pink shirts during the game. No matter where the ball was kicked or passed up and down the field, even after the Saudi’s surprise first half goal, many eyes were on the refs.
FIFA says it was a way to give recognition to the cities hosting games. “Officials will honor their host city by wearing pink flamingos,” FIFA’s X account said. It was also a nod to the Art Deco architecture and “those famous Miami sunsets that make the color iconic here.”
-- Vinod Sreeharsha
These World Cup fans brought a passion to the match in Miami. Take a look
Security was tight at Hard Rock Stadium on Monday night at the first of seven World Cup matches in South Florida. Fans arrived early and many took a free shuttle. Lines at the gates moved quickly. Inside, people were joyous. Uruguay fans outnumbered Saudi Arabia backers. Many flew up from South America to attend their first ever World Cup match.
-- Al Diaz and Vinod Sreeharsha
Read the full story: These World Cup fans brought a passion to the match in Miami. Take a look
The free shuttle was the big winner with fans
Miami is not known for its public transportation, so for the World Cup games hosted in South Florida, the logistics of getting thousands of fans to the stadium seemed overwhelming.
Fans who chose to buy parking passes and drive to Hard Rock Stadium for the World Cup match between Uruguay and Saudi Arabia got stuck in heavy traffic, but those who used the shuttle buses from park-and-ride lots said they had a pleasant, easy commute.
During the seven match days — June 15, 21, 24, 27 and July 3, 11 and 18 — verified ticket holders can access the county’s free coach bus shuttle services at four hub sites in Miami-Dade and one in Broward County that will pick up fans and whisk them to and from Hard Rock Stadium. And the plan seemed to work.
The Cabrera family from Chicago traveled to Miami to attend Monday’s match and the Sunday game between Uruguay and Cape Verde. They took the shuttle bus from Hard Rock Hotel to the stadium and said it was a good experience.
-- Michelle Kaufman and Vinod Sreeharsha
Read the full story: Getting to Miami Stadium for World Cup was rough - unless you took a shuttle
Uruguayan fans make early arrival at the stadium
Just outside Miami Stadium a few hours before kickoff, Uruguayan fans appeared to vastly outnumber Saudi fans. Security lines moved smoothly and fans would head toward the concession trucks, offering $11 slices and $7 water.
Lucas Epstein was at his fourth World Cup. This time, he brought his family including his two young children so they wouldn’t miss out. The Uruguayan, who lives in Mexico City, said they arrived at the match on the free county shuttle, which he said worked well. As soon as they entered the stadium, the family immediately bought ice cream at a truck and sat at a nearby table downing their ice cream.
Jorge Duque was living out a dream as he entered the southeast gates of Miami Stadium (Hard Rock Stadium). The 63 year-old from Montevideo, Uruguay, was attending his first World Cup match ever. He came with three other family members who live in New Jersey who met him in Miami.
The group took and Uber as close to the stadium as they could get then walked the rest of the way, but Duque said they didn’t mind. “No. We Uruguayans are used to it.” His relative Daniel Franco, 28, lives in New Jersey and said his family is both Mexican and Uruguayan — “half-half,” he said — but he was decked out in an Uruguayan jersey with Valverde on the back. He said his priorities for this World Cup are first Uruguay, second Mexico and third the U.S.
-- Vinod Sreeharsha
The scene outside the stadium
There was no World Cup party waiting outside Miami Stadium on Monday.
The scene in Miami Gardens was tightly managed: police officers at major intersections, blocked roads, credential checks, security checkpoints, fans directed toward stadium entrances and nearby residents and businesses selling parking.
-- Tyler Carmona
Read the full story: Outside Miami Stadium, World Cup scene was defined by checkpoints, not crowds
Uruguay has travel hiccup
The Uruguay World Cup team dealt with a travel hiccup ahead of Monday’s opening match against Saudi Arabia at Hard Rock Stadium.
The team’s charter flight from Mexico to Miami Sunday night was delayed a few hours due to missing documentation. Uruguay’s team was scheduled to travel Sunday afternoon from their base camp in Playa del Carmen.
“Due to problems beyond the control of the AUF, the departure from Mexico has been delayed. The squad is resting at the hotel. The new departure time set by FIFA is 4.15pm,” the Uruguayan Federation said in a statement on Sunday.
FIFA later explained the delay: “Due to an airline permitting error in Mexico, the Uruguay national team’s departure from Cancun to Miami was delayed.
-- Michelle Kaufman
Read the full story: Uruguay’s World Cup team ready for Miami match after travel hiccup on Sunday
Traffic is already a mess
Traffic on I-95 and the interchange to the Florida Turnpike was bumper to bumper at 1 p.m. Ongoing construction worsened the situation, but shortly after the interchange, traffic eased.
Here’s what to know about road closures:
The following roads will be closed on all match days unless your vehicle has a valid FIFA parking pass for that day’s match: Turnpike 2X Ramp and Exit (both northbound and southbound) NW 199th St. between NW 27th Ave. and NW 14th Ct. Additionally, the following roads will be closed 1 hour after each match begins until post-game traffic clears: NW 27th Ave. between NW 203rd St. and NW 199th St. Turnpike northbound between Golden Glades and 2X Exit.
-- Vinod Sreeharsha and Michelle Kaufman
If you have a ticket
To start, we have a comprehensive guide with everything you need to know about today’s match for those that have a ticket with tips getting to the stadium, parking, what kind of bags you can bring inside, what kind of instruments, flags and signs you can bring into the stadium — anything you can think of.
Important info for ticketholders who also purchased a parking pass: In addition to the electronic pass you received, you must print and display the pass included in e-mail on your windshield. Only cars with this pass can access roads near the stadium. So, you will need an electronic ticket, an electronic parking pass and a printed out road access pass that goes in your windshield/dashboard. -- Michelle Kaufman
Read the story: Going to Uruguay vs Saudi Arabia World Cup game? Here’s everything you need to know
Watch parties
For the rest of us mere mortals who plan to watch the match on a screen, there are so many options around town to watch with soccer fans, from the official Fan Fest in Bayfront Park, to local municipal watch parties to parties hosted at local bars and restaurants that feature food and drink specials.
Read the full stories:
Looking for a World Cup watch party in Miami? See list of free community events
How to watch the World Cup in Miami away from the stadium. See the choices
World Cup is here! What you need to know about Miami Fan Fest, transportation
But can you still get tickets?
If you want to see a World Cup match in Miami, Saudi Arabia v. Uruguay may be your best bet. This matchup is the least expensive of the local matches to attend. As of Friday, tickets: Prices are $417 to $8,637 on StubHub and $427 to $10,490 on SeatGeek.
Read the full story: Are World Cup tickets available in Miami — and at what price? Check now
What do you need to know about the teams before the game?
Take a look team history, players to watch and where FIFA ranks both teams.
Read the full story: Here’s a guide to the seven World Cup teams (and their fans) headed to Miami
How hot is it going to be?
Pretty hot. A heat advisory has been issued for South Florida, with feels-like temperatures of 103 to 107 in Monday’s forecast. The National Weather Service advisory will be in effect for Miami-Dade and Broward counties from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. But since the match starts at 6 p.m., fans commuting will feel the worst of it.
Read the full story: Heat advisory issued for South Florida. It could feel like 107 on World Cup day
This story was originally published June 15, 2026 at 2:17 PM.