Historic draw: Qatar earns first World Cup point against Switzerland

Qatar achieved a historic milestone in the 2026 World Cup by earning their first-ever point with a dramatic 1-1 draw against Switzerland in their opening Group B match. The host nation fought back from a first-half deficit to secure a late equalizer, stunning pre-match predictions.

Switzerland, considered the stronger opponent, took the lead in the 14th minute after a penalty was awarded for a foul on Michel Aebischer. Breel Embolo converted the spot-kick, giving the European side a 1-0 advantage heading into halftime. Qatar had an early chance to open the scoring in the third minute through Edmilson, but he failed to capitalize on a defensive error.

Despite Switzerland dominating possession and creating numerous second-half chances through players like Granit Xhaka and Embolo, they were unable to extend their lead. Qatar's defense held firm, and their persistence paid off in the dying moments of the game.

In the 90th minute plus four, Abdelkarim Hassan Khoukhi rose to meet a cross from the right flank and headed the ball past Swiss goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, leveling the score at 1-1 and sparking jubilant celebrations among the Qatari players and fans.

The draw has thrown Group B wide open, with all four teams now level on one point after the opening fixtures. While Switzerland can rue missed opportunities and a failure to convert their dominance into more goals, Qatar's resilience and late equalizer have set an unpredictable tone for the remainder of the group stage.

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The doors of dialogue are open to talk with all presidential ex-candidates and, above all, with Mr. Roberto Sánchez.