In a thrilling Group B opener at Levi’s Stadium on Saturday, Qatar, the underdogs, created magic in the 94th minute to draw 1-1 against Switzerland, their first-ever point at a FIFA World Cup.
Breel Embolo scored Switzerland’s first goal in the 17th minute from the penalty spot after Qatar’s Mahmoud Abunada was fouled in the box. Despite Switzerland’s dominance, Qatar’s defence and attacking play kept them in the game.
Boualem Khoukhi’s towering header from a Homam Ahmed cross in stoppage time equalised the match, sending the Qatari crowd into raptures. The goal capped a spirited fightback under coach Julen Lopetegui, leaving Group B wide open.
Switzerland, unbeaten in qualifying and ranked 19th globally, entered the match as favourites of group Their experienced squad, led by captain Granit Xhaka, and tactical setup under Murat Yakin gave them control, but they couldn’t convert pressure into a win, leaving them with just one point from their opening fixture.
For Qatar, ranked 56th, the result marks a significant milestone. Hosting the 2022 tournament, they failed to pick up a point in the group stage. This hard-fought draw, built on defensive organization and late heroics, provides a crucial boost as they look ahead to fixtures against Canada and others in the group.
Both teams will now regroup quickly, with Switzerland aiming to bounce back and Qatar seeking to build on this momentum.