WEDNESDAY’S GAMES

PORTUGAL VS. MOROCCO

8 a.m. Cristiano Ronaldo was exceptional in Portugal’s opening World Cup game and now has a chance to help his team knock Morocco out of the tournament. Ronaldo scored a hat trick in the opening match against Spain, a 3-3 draw that so far stands as the most exciting game of this year’s World Cup. Morocco dominated its opening match against Iran but lost 1-0 on an own-goal in stoppage time. If Ronaldo plays at the same level Wednesday at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, a Portugal victory would ensure elimination for Morocco.

URUGUAY VS. SAUDI ARABIA

11 a.m. Luis Suarez will make his 100th appearance for Uruguay when his national team faces Saudi Arabia in a make-or-break Group A game. Saudi Arabia is winless in the World Cup since 1994, and the team was routed 5-0 by host nation Russia in the opening game of the tournament. Saudi Arabia has finished last in group play in its last three World Cup appearances, has not won in its last 11 World Cup games and has failed to score in eight of the last 10. It did not have a single shot on target in the opener against Russia. That should make it an easier day for Suarez, who has 51 international goals and is Uruguay’s all-time top scorer.

SPAIN VS. IRAN

2 p.m. Spain began in disarray after the federation fired coach Julen Lopetegui just 48 hours before its opening match against Portugal. It didn’t seem to rattle the team, though, as Spain outplayed Portugal but ended in a 3-3 draw because of Ronaldo’s hat trick. Diego Costa scored twice for Spain to emerge as an early star of the World Cup, but goalkeeper David De Gea had a rough opener. He let a shot from Ronaldo slip through his fingers in a mediocre performance, but the team said he will start against Iran. Iran goes into the match at Kazan Arena leading Group B after its victory over Morocco and hopes its stingy defense keeps the team on track to advance to the next round. Iran arrived in Russia with the second best qualifying record in the world in the final stage of Asian play with nine victories in 10 games.