San Francisco, 14 June 2026 (FIFA/QNA)

Qatar began their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Switzerland in Group B, earning a valuable point in a dramatic contest at San Francisco Bay Arena on Saturday.

Qatar goal: Miro Muheim own goal (90+4),

Switzerland goal: Embolo (17, penalty)

Qatar snatched their first FIFA World Cup™ point as Miro Muheim's own goal four minutes into added time earned them a 1-1 draw with Group B rivals Switzerland in the San Francisco Bay Area sunshine on Saturday lunchtime, FIFA reported.

Making only their second appearance at the FIFA World Cup, Al Annabi showed determination and resilience, coming from behind to secure a late equalizer through veteran defender Boualem Khoukhi deep into stoppage time.

The match started brightly for Qatar, who nearly opened the scoring within the first three minutes. A well-timed pass from Akram Afif sent Edmilson Junior through on goal, but Swiss goalkeeper Gregor Kobel reacted brilliantly to keep the score level.

Despite Qatar’s promising start, Switzerland gradually gained control of possession and created several dangerous opportunities. Their pressure paid off in the 17th minute when they were awarded a penalty after Mahmoud Abu Nada brought down Remo Freuler inside the box. Breel Embolo calmly converted from the spot to give the Swiss side a 1-0 advantage.

Qatar responded positively and looked increasingly threatening as the first half progressed. Youssef Abdelrazaq came close with a long-range effort, while Edmilson Junior was denied once again by Kobel in a one-on-one situation just before halftime.

Seeking a way back into the game, head coach Julen Lopetegui introduced several attacking changes at the start of the second half. The substitutions injected fresh energy into the team as Qatar pushed forward in search of an equalizer.

Switzerland remained dangerous on the counterattack, with Granit Xhaka narrowly missing the target and substitute Fabian Rieder testing Abu Nada, who produced an important save to keep Qatar within reach.

The final stages saw relentless pressure from the Qatari side. Karim Boudiaf came close with a powerful strike, while Ahmed Alaa also threatened late on. As time appeared to be running out, Qatar finally found their breakthrough.

In the fourth minute of added time, Homam Al Amin delivered an excellent cross into the penalty area, where Boualem Khoukhi rose highest to head the ball into the net, sparking celebrations among Qatari players and supporters.

The dramatic equalizer secured Qatar’s first goal and first point of the tournament, keeping their qualification hopes firmly alive. Following Canada’s 1-1 draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina, all four teams in Group B sit level on one point after the opening round of matches.

The result also rewarded the efforts of the large contingent of Qatari supporters who traveled to the United States to back the national team. Qatar will now shift their focus to a crucial second group-stage encounter against Canada on June 18 as they continue their quest for a place in the knockout rounds.