Switzerland draws 1-1 with Qatar as captain Xhaka decries lack of discipline

Switzerland opened its 2026 World Cup campaign with a 1‑1 draw against Qatar in Santa Clara. Breel Embolo gave the Swiss a 1‑0 lead from the spot in the 17th minute, but a late header by Boualem Khoukhi from a Miro Muheim deflection in the fourth minute of added time forced a share of points. The Swiss dominated possession and created 26 shots to Qatar’s seven, yet missed several opportunities.

Captain Granit Xhaka criticised the team’s performance, saying, “Wenn man keine Disziplin auf dem Platz hat, kann man auch gegen Katar nicht gewinnen,” and added, “Erstmal müssen wir mit beiden Beinen auf den Boden kommen und die Realität sehen.” Goalkeeper Gregor Kobel called the result “ganz bitter.” Coach Murat Yakin urged the squad to learn from the mistake and improve discipline before the next group match against Bosnia‑Herzegovina.

A brief VAR technical glitch during the build‑up to the penalty was later clarified by FIFA, which confirmed the referee’s decision stood. The draw leaves Switzerland with one point in Group B and heightens pressure to secure a win in the upcoming fixtures.