Qatar snatch first-ever World Cup point with stoppage-time header to stun Switzerland

Qatar earned their first-ever point in World Cup finals football when a stoppage-time header from captain Boualem Khoukhi — later confirmed by FIFA as a Miro Muheim own goal — cancelled out Breel Embolo’s first-half penalty in a 1-1 draw with Switzerland in World Cup 2026 Group B at Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara.

The result left Group B wide open at the first round of fixtures, with Switzerland punished for a dominant display that yielded 26 shots but only one goal. Qatar, managed by former Spain head coach Julen Lopetegui, had spent much of the match defending deep before striking in the final moments.

Embolo had given Switzerland the lead from the penalty spot in the 13th minute after goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada clattered Remo Freuler following a downward header. A lengthy VAR check for offside preceded the kick, but the Rennes forward kept his composure to send Abunada the wrong way. The Swiss goalkeeper had earlier needed treatment from the collision.

Switzerland came close to extending their lead before half-time when Michel Aebischer’s shot was cleared off the goal-line in first-half stoppage time, while Abunada produced a fine reaction save from Ruben Vargas at his near post. After the restart, captain Granit Xhaka fired a long-range effort over, and with 15 minutes remaining Embolo shot into the side-netting before substitute Johan Manzambi fired narrowly wide.

The failure to convert proved costly. A deep overlap run from left-back Homam Al Amin produced a cross that found Khoukhi unmarked at the back post, and the Qatar captain powered a header into the corner to spark wild celebrations on the bench and among his team-mates.

Switzerland head coach Murat Yakin was candid about his side’s shortcomings in front of goal. “We have nothing to reproach ourselves for in terms of the way we played,” he said. “If you look at the statistics, we had 26 shots today, but we only ended up warming up the goalkeeper. I think we need to work on our precision and our belief.”

The match was played at the 69,000-capacity Levi’s Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers, where a number of empty seats were visible as the teams walked out — echoing concerns raised after apparent gaps in the crowd at the Group A fixture between South Korea and the Czech Republic in Guadalajara. FIFA maintained that official attendance figures were accurate, stating that ticketed fans had been standing in concourses rather than occupying their assigned seats.