Santa Clara, June 14: In a thrilling encounter at the FIFA World Cup 2026, Qatar managed to secure their first point on foreign soil with a 1-1 draw against Switzerland. The match, held in California, saw a dramatic equalizer from Boualem Khoukhi in stoppage time.
Switzerland started the match aggressively, maintaining control of the ball. They took the lead in the 17th minute when Qatar’s defender Mahmoud Abunada fouled Remo Freuler inside the penalty box. The referee awarded a penalty, which star striker Breel Embolo converted effortlessly, giving Switzerland a 1-0 advantage.
Throughout the first half, Switzerland continued to press forward, creating several scoring opportunities. Dan Ndoye consistently troubled Qatar’s defense, while Michel Aebischer came close to scoring. However, Qatar also had their chances, with Edmilson Junior missing a fantastic opportunity early on, thwarted by goalkeeper Gregor Kobel. Just before halftime, Edmilson’s second attempt was again denied by Kobel.
The pace of the game slowed in the second half, but Switzerland maintained their lead. In the final moments, Juan Vargas and Embolo had chances to extend the score to 2-0, but both failed to capitalize. These missed opportunities would prove costly for Switzerland.
As it seemed Switzerland would comfortably secure the victory, Qatar made a stunning comeback in the fourth minute of injury time. Homam Ahmed delivered a brilliant cross from the left, which Boualem Khoukhi met with a powerful header. The ball sailed over goalkeeper Kobel and into the net, leveling the score at 1-1.
With this goal, Qatar made history by earning their first point in a World Cup match on foreign soil. For Switzerland, the match was disappointing, as they dominated yet failed to secure a win. Nevertheless, experienced players Ricardo Rodriguez and Granit Xhaka achieved a milestone by playing their 13th World Cup match. Despite the draw, Qatar’s result felt like a victory, keeping their hopes alive for advancing to the next round and adding a memorable chapter to World Cup history.
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