Qatar earn first World Cup point with late equaliser against Switzerland
Qatar claimed their first ever World Cup point with a 1-1 draw against Switzerland on Saturday, after an injury-time own goal by Swiss defender Miro Muheim cancelled out Breel Embolo's first-half penalty.
Match story
Switzerland dominated the opening Group B match at Levi's Stadium, outshooting Qatar 26 to a handful and taking a 13th-minute lead through a Breel Embolo penalty after goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada fouled Remo Freuler. The Swiss pressed throughout the afternoon but failed to convert a string of chances, with Abunada making a fine reaction save from Ruben Vargas and Michel Aebischer's shot cleared off the goal-line late in the first half.
Qatar, appearing in only their second World Cup, had threatened early when Edmilson Junior capitalised on a Manuel Akanji error in the second minute only to shoot straight at Gregor Kobel. The Asian champions looked outclassed for long stretches, yet they kept the deficit to a single goal and snatched an equaliser deep into stoppage time. A cross from left-back Homam Al Amin found captain Boualem Khoukhi at the far post; his pressured header forced Miro Muheim to turn the ball into his own net, sparking wild celebrations.
- Edmilson Junior's tame shot is saved by Gregor Kobel after an early Manuel Akanji error.
- Breel Embolo converts a penalty after Mahmoud Abunada fouls Remo Freuler; VAR checks for offside.
- Miro Muheim's own goal under pressure from Boualem Khoukhi earns Qatar a 1-1 draw.
A point to remember
The draw delivers Qatar's first ever World Cup point. They lost all three group matches as hosts in 2022, scoring once. Since that tournament they won the 2023 Asian Cup and qualified for this World Cup under their own steam, beating the United Arab Emirates in October 2025. Coach Julen Lopetegui, who took charge in May 2025, called the result history for the squad.
I told them that even if we hadn't scored the goal and didn't draw I would have been proud of the mentality and discipline that they showed today. But fortunately we scored and that was history.
Switzerland rue missed chances
Switzerland, unbeaten in competitive matches since late 2024, were heavy favourites and controlled possession, but manager Murat Yakin will worry about his side's inability to kill off the game. Dan Ndoye, Johan Manzambi and Embolo all came close in the second half, while the heat prompted multiple hydration breaks that disrupted the Swiss rhythm. A victory would have put them in control of Group B after Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina drew 1-1 on Friday.
Lopetegui’s milestone
For Julen Lopetegui, the match marked his first as a coach at a World Cup, eight years after he was sacked by Spain days before the 2018 tournament for agreeing to join Real Madrid afterwards. The 59-year-old described his team's performance as disciplined and praised their spirit.
Empty seats in Santa Clara
The contest was played under a blazing Californian sun at the 69,000-capacity Levi's Stadium, but television images showed thousands of empty seats. FIFA defended the official attendance figure, insisting that many ticketed fans were watching from concourses rather than their assigned seats.
