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Login2026 FIFA World Cup: Qatar Hold Switzerland to 1-1 Draw
San Francisco, June 14 (QNA) - The Qatari team drew 1-1 with Switzerland in the match held Saturday at San Francisco Bay Arena, in the opening round of Group B in the 2026 FIFA World Cup currently taking place in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Switzerland took the lead through Breel Embolo from a penalty kick in the 17th minute, while Boualem Khoukhi snatched the equalizer for Qatar in stoppage time (90+4), earning Al Annabi their first point of the tournament in their second World Cup appearance, following their debut in the 2022 World Cup, which they hosted on home soil.
With this result, all four teams in the group are level on one point each, after Canada had previously drawn with Bosnia and Herzegovina by the same scoreline.
Qatar started the match brightly and nearly scored just three minutes in when Akram Afif delivered a pass that put Edmilson Junior through on goal, but the goalkeeper produced a brilliant save to deny him.
Switzerland, packed with star players, controlled the match and pressed for the opening goal, earning a penalty after Dan Ndoye delivered a cross that reached Remo Freuler in front of goal, where he was fouled by goalkeeper Mahmoud Abu Nada.
Breel Embolo converted the penalty successfully, putting Switzerland ahead in the 17th minute.
Qatar's performance improved as they searched for the equalizer, with Youssef Abdelrazaq attempting a long-range shot that went just over the crossbar in the 27th minute.
Switzerland responded through a one-on-one chance for Ruben Vargas, whose powerful shot was saved by goalkeeper Mahmoud Abu Nada in the 37th minute.
Qatar nearly equalized after a clear chance from a pass by Issa Lai to Edmilson Junior, who went one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but Swiss keeper Gregor Kobel produced a superb save in the 44th minute, as the first half ended with Switzerland leading 1-0.
Spanish coach Julen Lopetegui made several substitutions at the start of the second half to increase attacking numbers in midfield and boost the offensive phase, bringing on Ahmed Alaa, Karim Boudiaf, and Ahmed Fathy, with Qatar pushing higher up the pitch.
On the other hand, Switzerland showed better balance by dropping deeper and relying on quick transitions, which nearly produced a second goal when Granit Xhaka fired a shot that went just wide of the post in the 62nd minute, before Abu Nada denied substitute Fabian Rieder in the 66th minute.
Qatar applied heavy pressure in the final 15 minutes, with Karim Boudiaf forcing a strong shot just over the bar in the 77th minute. The Swiss defense then cut out a dangerous pass from Akram Afif to Ahmed Alaa in the 80th minute, before Alaa nearly equalized in the final minute with a low shot that was comfortably saved by the goalkeeper.
In stoppage time, Qatar grabbed the equalizer after a cross from Homam Al Amin was headed powerfully into the net by Boualem Khoukhi, scoring Al Annabi's first goal of the tournament in the 90+4th minute, as the match ended 1-1.
Qatar earned a valuable point, level with the rest of the group, keeping their hopes alive in the race for one of the two qualification spots to the next round ahead of their upcoming clash against Canada in the second round on the 18th of this month. (QNA)
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