Qatar-Switzerland: Boualem Khoukhi historic, Abunada heroic, Swiss frustration... the highs and lows

Qatar achieved a historic 1-1 draw against Switzerland in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, marking their first point in the tournament and exceeding their performance from their previous World Cup appearance.

The match saw Qatar, largely dominated by Switzerland, snatch an unexpected draw in second-half stoppage time. Captain Boualem Khoukhi scored the equalizer with a header, securing Qatar's first-ever World Cup point. This result already surpasses their 2022 home World Cup campaign, where they lost all three matches.

Goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada played a heroic role for Qatar. Although he conceded a penalty that allowed Switzerland to take the lead, he made numerous saves throughout the match, keeping Qatar in contention and preserving hope until Khoukhi's late goal.

Switzerland, on the other hand, expressed significant frustration. Despite dominating the game, particularly in the first half, they failed to extend their lead. Their inability to convert chances against a strong performance from the Qatari goalkeeper meant they could not secure the win, ultimately dropping two crucial points and leaving with only one.

Breel Embolo was a standout for Switzerland, scoring their only goal from the penalty spot. However, his efforts were not enough to secure a victory, and he was less influential in the second half as Switzerland's dominance waned.