Qatar snatches dramatic late draw against Switzerland in World Cup 2026 opener
Qatar produced a stunning late comeback to hold Switzerland to a 1-1 draw in their opening Group B clash of the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Saturday.
Switzerland appeared to be heading toward victory after striker Breel Embolo converted a penalty in the 17th minute. The spot-kick was awarded following a reckless challenge by Qatari goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada inside the penalty area.
The Swiss side dominated much of the match, controlling nearly 78 percent possession and creating more than 20 attempts on goal. However, their inability to capitalize on multiple scoring opportunities kept Qatar within reach throughout the contest.
Just when Switzerland seemed set to secure all three points, Qatari defender Boualem Khoukhi struck deep into stoppage time to level the score and send Qatari supporters into celebration.
The dramatic equaliser earned Qatar a valuable point in Group B and marked one of the early surprises of the tournament, while Switzerland was left frustrated after failing to convert dominance into victory.
