Julen Lopetegui's Qatar claim first World Cup point with 95th‑minute header against Switzerland

Match story

Switzerland started stronger, with Dan Ndoye testing goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada twice inside the opening ten minutes. The Swiss pressure eventually paid off in the 17th minute when Abunada fouled Remo Freuler and Breel Embolo converted the resulting penalty, the first ever awarded to Switzerland at a World Cup.

Qatar, coached by Spaniard Julen Lopetegui, rarely threatened in the first half, though Edmilson Junior forced Gregor Kobel into a low save shortly before the break. Switzerland continued to create the better chances after the restart, including a long‑range strike from Granit Xhaka that Abunada tipped over.

As the match drifted toward a routine Swiss win, Qatar found a final push. In the 95th minute, a cross from Homam Ahmed found Boualem Khoukhi, whose firm header beat Kobel and sent the Qatar bench into wild celebrations.

Qatar's milestone

Before this match, Qatar had lost all three of its World Cup fixtures as host in 2022, scoring only once. The draw in Santa Clara therefore represents the nation's first point in the tournament's history. It also marks Lopetegui's World Cup debut as a head coach, eight years after he was dismissed by Spain on the eve of Russia 2018.

Swiss wastefulness

Murat Yakin's side controlled possession and carved out numerous openings but failed to translate that dominance into a decisive second goal. Ndoye, Embolo, Ruben Vargas and Michel Aebischer all had opportunities that either missed the target or were blocked. The lack of clinical finishing allowed Qatar to remain in the contest and ultimately punished the Swiss.

Group B implications

The result leaves all four teams in Group B level on one point after the first round of matches, with Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina also having drawn their opener. For Qatar, the point keeps alive a faint hope of progressing beyond the group stage for the first time.