Qatar and Switzerland finish 1‑1 in World Cup 2026 opener amid VAR glitch

The opening match of Group B at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Santa Clara, California ended in a 1‑1 draw. Switzerland took the lead after Breel Embolo converted a penalty in the 17th minute. Qatar equalised in added time of the second half when centre‑back Boualem Khoukhi headed in from a set‑piece in the 94th minute, earning the Asian side its first point of the tournament.

During the second‑half penalty decision, FIFA reported a brief technical failure of the VAR system that prevented the broadcast of the usual off‑side graphic. The organization later confirmed that the VAR review itself was unaffected and that no off‑side infringement was identified.

Both teams view the result as pivotal for advancement to the knockout stage. Switzerland remain favourites to progress, while Qatar hope the point will launch a successful campaign after a disappointing 2022 showing.