
Qatar Achieves Historic Draw Against Switzerland at World Cup
June 16, 2026 · Verónica Gómez
Qatar earns its first World Cup point with a last-minute draw against Switzerland, who missed several opportunities.
Qatar made World Cup history on Saturday evening by securing their first-ever point in the tournament. Although the host nation of the previous edition appeared to be struggling against Switzerland, they managed to clinch a draw in a dramatic finish. The match took place at Levi's Stadium, where Switzerland initially dominated proceedings.
The game started with an early opportunity for Qatar when Edmilson Junior found himself one-on-one with Switzerland's goalkeeper Gregor Kobel after a defensive error by Manuel Akanji. However, Junior's shot was weak, and Kobel saved it. Switzerland then took control of the match and was awarded a penalty after Remo Freuler collided with Qatar's goalkeeper Mahmud Abunad. Despite initial appearances of offside, VAR confirmed the penalty, which Breel Embolo calmly converted, marking Switzerland's first-ever World Cup penalty goal.
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As the first half drew to a close, both teams missed significant chances. Edmilson Junior failed to equalize for Qatar, while Switzerland's Michel Aebischer saw his attempt cleared off the line. The second half saw continued Swiss dominance, but Qatar's defense held firm. Breel Embolo had another chance to double Switzerland's lead, but his shot hit the side netting.
In a dramatic turn, Qatar capitalized on Switzerland's missed opportunities in the 94th minute. Homam Al-Amin delivered a precise cross that Boualem Khoukhi headed home, earning Qatar a memorable draw. The result was celebrated jubilantly by the Qatari team and fans, marking a significant milestone in their World Cup journey.
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