World Cup 2026: Qatar stuns Switzerland with late equaliser
Key takeaways
- Switzerland was caught off guard in a dramatic draw against Qatar (1-1) in their World Cup 2026 group stage opener.
- Issued on: 13/06/2026 - 23:10Modified: 13/06/2026 - 23:29
- A Breel Embolo penalty had broken the deadlock for Switzerland early in the first half in the San Francisco Bay Area, before the wasteful favourites were made to pay as Qatar earned their first ever point at a World Cup.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
Switzerland was caught off guard in a dramatic draw against Qatar (1-1) in their World Cup 2026 group stage opener. Breel Embolo opened the scoring in the 17th minute from the penalty spot after a reckless challenge from goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada. The Swiss dominated possession but struggled to convert their numerous chances, allowing Boualem Khoukhi to snatch a stoppage-time equaliser.
Issued on: 13/06/2026 - 23:10Modified: 13/06/2026 - 23:29
By: FRANCE 24 Qatar's Mohamed Manai left, falls under pressure from Switzerland's Zeki Amdouni during the World Cup Group B soccer match between Qatar and Switzerland in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco, Saturday, June 13, 2026. © Eakin Howard, AP Qatar's Boualem Khoukhi stunned Switzerland with a late equaliser as the sides played out a 1-1 draw in their opening match at the World Cup on Saturday.