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[SPORTS] · Qatar, Switzerland, United States · 98 sources

Qatar earns first‑ever World Cup point with late 1‑1 draw against Switzerland

On 13 June 2026 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, Qatar and Switzerland finished 1‑1 in the opening Group B match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Switzerland took the lead in the 17th minute when Breel Embolo converted a penalty after a handball on Remo Freuler. The Swiss dominated possession but failed to add a second goal.

In the fourth minute of stoppage time, Boualem Khoukhi headed a cross into the net, securing Qatar’s first‑ever point in a World Cup – “a historic moment for Qatar,” said coach Julen Lopetegui. The match left all four teams in Group B – Qatar, Switzerland, Canada and Bosnia‑Herzegovina – level on one point, setting up a Qatar‑Canada clash and a Swiss‑Bosnia‑Herzegovina showdown.

Swiss captain Granit Xhaka and midfielder Denis Zakaria called the result “catastrophic,” while Qatar’s coach praised his side’s “discipline and mentality.” The game also featured a dramatic moment when Qatar goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada received a yellow card after a clash with Freuler, and Swiss goalkeeper Gregor Kobel made several key saves.

The draw was widely described as an upset, with many outlets noting that Qatar’s equaliser was “the fourth‑latest goal in World Cup group‑stage history.”

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