Image source: Alamy Stock Photo
Qatar scored a late equaliser to hold Switzerland 1-1 in a 2026 World Cup Group B match in Santa Clara on Saturday.
The Rossocrociati (Red Crosses) looked set to claim the victory on the back of a penalty from Breel Embolo in the first half, but they wasted numerous chances to kill off the game and were punished by Al-Annabi (The Maroon) at the death when Boualem Khoukhi headed home a dramatic equaliser.
The result leaves all four teams in Group B level on one point apiece (following co-hosts Canada drawing 1-1 with Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday).
Switzerland established dominance early in the game, but Qatar should have claimed the lead in just the second minute, as Edmilson Junior capitalised on a defensive error but then failed to beat Swiss goalkeeper Gregor Kobel one-one-one.
From then on the European side camped in their attacking half and dialled up the pressure on Al Annabi, with Dan Ndoye missing out on two great chances – the first of which forced a sharp save from Qatar goalkeeper Mahmud Abunada, while the second was ballooned over.
Abunada was Qatar’s most influential player, but he gave away a penalty just before the quarter hour mark when he mistimed an attempt to punch clear the ball and fouled Remo Freuler. Breel Embolo took the spot kick and scored in the 17th minute to put the Rossocrociati 1-0 up.
Switzerland continued to boss the game through the remainder of the first half, forcing several notable saves from Abunada – as well as a goal-line clearance – while Qatar’s only other fleeting moment of hope was a half-chance for Edmilson Junior which was again turned away by Kobel.
Abunada continued his heroics in the second half, keeping out efforts from Ruben Vargas and Embolo, while Granit Xhaka and substitutes Johan Manzambi and Zeki Amdouni all sent efforts just wide of the mark as Switzerland looked for a killer second goal.
With Qatar still alive in the game, they had a fleeting chance of an equaliser in the final minute of regulation time, but substitute Ahmed Alaaeldin saw his low shot from the edge of the box easily saved.
The match seemed destined to end in favour of Switzerland, but in the fourth minute of injury time Ahmed Al Amin whipped in a fine cross from the left and Boualem Khoukhi powered home a header at the far post to secure a 1-1 draw.
The teams will resume their Group B campaigns next week, with Switzerland facing Bosnia and Herzegovina in Los Angeles on the evening of Thursday 18 June (21:00), and Qatar tackling Canada in Vancouver on the early morning of Friday 19 June (00:00).
Qatar (0) 1 (B. Khoukhi 90+4’)
Switzerland (1) 1 (B. Embolo 17’ pen)
Qatar: M. Abunada, A. Al Oui (A. Fathi 60’), Pedro Miguel, B. Khoukhi, H. Al Amin, J. Gaber (K. Boudiaf 60’), A. Madibo (M. Al Mannai 79’), I. Laye, Edmilson Jnr (H. Al Haydos 89’), Y. Abdurisag (A. Alaaeldin 60’), A. Afif
Switzerland: G. Kobel, D. Zakaria, M. Akanji, N. Elvedi, M. Aebischer (F. Rieder 65’), R. Freuler (A. Jashari 89’), G. Xhaka, R. Rodriguez (M. Muheim 89’), D. Ndoye (J. Manzambi 65’), R. Vargas (Z. Amdouni 79’), B. Embolo
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