The stalemate came hours after one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history when European champions Spain were held 0-0 by debutants Cape Verde in the same group.

After the first round of games in the pool all four teams have one point.

Defender Abdulelah al-Amri gave the Saudis a surprise lead near the end of the first half only for Uruguay's second-half pressure to pay off with 10 minutes left through Maxi Araujo.

Marcelo Bielsa's Uruguay racked up 22 shots in the second period but the Saudi defence and goalkeeper Mohammed al-Owais doggedly held firm.

"We should have won this match," said the colourful Argentine Bielsa, whose side play Cape Verde next.

"We weren't able to show the best version of ourselves," he added, admitting that his side only got going in the second half.

Uruguay, World Cup winners in 1930 and 1950, saw their arrival in the United States from Mexico delayed by a snag with the paperwork for their plane.

In evening temperatures of more than 30C and energy-sapping humidity, both teams struggled to create much in front of goal early on.

Just after the half-hour mark the Saudi stopper Owais was called into action for a second time to parry a diving header from close range by Federico Vinas.

The Saudis, who stunned eventual champions Argentina 2-1 to start their campaign at the Qatar 2022 World Cup, looked to hit their opponents on the break.

They had their first real opportunity shortly before half-time when Amri forced Fernando Muslera to palm away his fizzing shot.

Four minutes before the break the defender did score, reacting fastest to poke home from close range after Muslera spilled a header from a corner.