Qatar Secures Historic First World Cup Point Against Switzerland
Published June 13, 2026
Qatar made history in their opening match of the FIFA World Cup 2026, earning their first-ever tournament point with a dramatic injury-time draw against Switzerland.
Published — local time around the world
In a thrilling start to their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign, hosts Qatar secured a memorable 1-1 draw against Switzerland, claiming a historic first point in the tournament's history. The Asian Cup holders fought back from a goal down, finding an equalizer deep into stoppage time to split the points in their Group B encounter.
The match saw Switzerland initially take control, with Breel Embolo converting a penalty in the 17th minute. The spot-kick was awarded after Qatar's goalkeeper, Mahmoud Abunada, fouled Embolo inside the box. Despite the early lead and several other scoring opportunities, the Swiss were unable to extend their advantage, leaving the door open for a Qatari comeback at Levi's Stadium.
The decisive moment for Qatar arrived in the fourth minute of injury time when Boualem Khoukhi rose to head home an equalizer, sending the Qatari bench and fans into jubilant celebrations. This dramatic late goal ensured that Qatar, participating as one of the 48 teams in this expanded tournament across the USA, Canada, and Mexico, would mark their presence with a significant result right from the outset.