MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The four World Cup group-stage matches taking place at Hard Rock Stadium were confirmed Saturday.
The first game in Miami Gardens will feature 16th-ranked Uruguay against 60th-ranked Saudi Arabia at 6 p.m. June 15.
Saudi Arabia gained worldwide recognition in the previous World Cup after shocking Lionel Messi and Argentina 2-1 in the group stage. The team is led by Al-Hilal star Salem Al-Dawsari — who scored the winning goal in that upset — and Lens midfielder Saud Abdulhamid.
Two-time World Cup champion Uruguay looks to improve on its last tournament after failing to advance from the group stage. This will be the first time since 2006 that Uruguay will play without longtime star Luis Suárez. Uruguay is led by Barcelona defender Ronald Araújo and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur.
Uruguay will also play a second match at Hard Rock Stadium, facing 68th-ranked Cape Verde at 6 p.m. June 21.
This will be Cape Verde’s first World Cup, making it the second-smallest country by land area and the third least-populated nation ever to qualify.
The third matchup at Hard Rock Stadium is a Group C meeting between two heavyweights: fifth-ranked Brazil and 36th-ranked Scotland at 6 p.m. June 24.
Brazil enters the competition as one of the favorites, having won the tournament a record five times. Its most recent title came in 2002. The squad features Real Madrid star Vinícius Júnior, Chelsea prospect Estevão, and Barcelona winger Raphinha. Brazil fell to Croatia in penalty kicks in the 2022 quarterfinals. It remains unclear whether Brazil’s all-time leading scorer, Neymar, will take part.
Scotland will play in its first World Cup since 1998 after beating Denmark in its final qualifier. The team is led by captain Andy Robertson of Liverpool, Napoli midfielder and Serie A MVP Scott McTominay, and Aston Villa’s John McGinn. All three will be making their World Cup debuts.
The final group-stage match in Miami Gardens will feature sixth-ranked Portugal and 13th-ranked Colombia at 7:30 p.m. June 27.
Portugal aims to capture its first World Cup title in what is expected to be Cristiano Ronaldo’s final tournament. Ronaldo has played in every World Cup since 2006. The squad also includes Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes, Paris Saint-Germain midfielders Vitinha and João Neves, and AC Milan winger Rafael Leão.
Colombia is also seeking its first title and is led by captain James Rodríguez, Bayern Munich winger Luis Díaz and Real Betis striker Juan Hernández.
Three additional matches will be played in Miami Gardens:
— A round-of-32 matchup between the winner of Group J and the runner-up of Group H at 6 p.m. July 3.
— A quarterfinal at 5 p.m. July 11.
— The third-place match at 5 p.m. July 18.
