Qatar secured the first World Cup point in their history with a dramatic late equalizer as they battled back to earn a 1-1 draw against Switzerland in their opening Group B match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Levi’s Stadium on Friday.
A towering header from captain Boualem Khoukhi deep into the closing stages rescued a valuable point for the 2022 World Cup hosts after Breel Embolo’s first-half penalty had seemingly put Switzerland on course for victory.
The result marked a significant milestone for Qatar, who exited their home World Cup in 2022 without earning a point. Under former Spain manager Julen Lopetegui, the Gulf nation showed resilience and determination to deny the Swiss and open their 2026 campaign with a memorable result.
Despite Switzerland enjoying strong support inside the 69,000-seat Levi’s Stadium, home of the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers, there were noticeable patches of empty seats as the teams emerged for kickoff on a warm California afternoon.
Qatar nearly stunned the European side early on. Forward Edmílson Junior capitalized on a mistake by Swiss defender Manuel Akanji, racing through on goal after winning possession high up the pitch. However, Swiss goalkeeper Gregor Kobel stood firm and comfortably saved the effort.
Switzerland quickly settled and began creating opportunities of their own. Dan Ndoye tested Qatar goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada with a low strike before later firing another first-time effort over the crossbar.
The breakthrough came in the 13th minute. Following a downward header from Embolo, midfielder Remo Freuler reached the loose ball first and was brought down by Abunada inside the penalty area. After a lengthy stoppage for treatment to the goalkeeper and a VAR review for a potential offside, the penalty was confirmed.
Embolo showed no signs of nerves as he calmly sent Abunada the wrong way, giving Switzerland a 1-0 lead and scoring the first goal of Group B.
The Swiss nearly doubled their advantage before halftime. Abunada reacted brilliantly to deny Rubén Vargas at his near post, while Michel Aebischer’s effort in first-half stoppage time had to be cleared off the goal line as Qatar desperately clung to the contest.
Switzerland continued to dictate play after the break. Captain Granit Xhaka launched a long-range effort over the bar, and the Europeans controlled possession for long stretches. However, with temperatures remaining high and hydration breaks interrupting play, the match gradually lost some of its intensity.
As the clock ticked down, Switzerland had chances to secure all three points. Embolo struck the side netting with 15 minutes remaining, while substitute Johan Manzambi narrowly missed the target with a promising effort.
Those missed opportunities proved costly.
In the closing minutes, Qatar launched one final attack. Left-back Homam Al Amin surged forward and delivered a deep cross that evaded the Swiss defense. Waiting at the back post was Khoukhi, who rose highest and powered a header into the corner of the net.
The dramatic equalizer sparked wild celebrations among the Qatar players and coaching staff, while the Swiss were left stunned after letting victory slip away.
The draw leaves Group B finely balanced after the opening round of matches. For Switzerland, it will feel like two points dropped after dominating much of the contest and creating the better opportunities. For Qatar, however, it was a historic moment and a reward for their perseverance.
After enduring a difficult debut World Cup campaign four years ago, Qatar can now proudly say they have earned their first point on football’s biggest stage. The late heroics of captain Boualem Khoukhi may yet prove pivotal as Lopetegui’s side seek to advance beyond the group stage for the first time in their history.
