In a thrilling encounter, Qatar celebrated their inaugural point in World Cup history with a dramatic 1-1 draw against Switzerland. Miro Muheim’s own goal in stoppage time, while under pressure from Boualem Khoukhi, sent the Gulf nation into a frenzy as he inadvertently redirected Homam Ahmed’s cross into the net at the 94-minute mark. This unexpected turn of events nullified Breel Embolo’s first-half penalty, leaving the Swiss team stunned after failing to capitalize on 26 attempts compared to Qatar’s seven.
The outcome has left Group B highly competitive, with all teams now sharing a single point each following the co-hosts Canada’s 1-1 draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Among the most jubilant was Qatar, looking to bounce back from their disappointing debut in 2022, where they exited without a win on home soil. The entire squad rushed onto the pitch in celebration after Muheim’s unfortunate header flew past his own goalkeeper, Gregor Kobel, marking a significant moment for coach Julen Lopetegui in his first World Cup match.
“We achieved one dream when we arrived here, to be here, and now today is another little dream,” Lopetegui expressed to reporters. “And we have the right to continue having the dream.” Notably, he was initially set to coach Spain at the 2018 tournament but was dismissed after announcing his agreement to join Real Madrid before the finals.
Qatar’s goalkeeper, Mahmoud Abunada, was also understandably elated, especially after conceding the penalty in the 17th minute for fouling Remo Freuler. “This is the first point in the history of the Qatari national team. Praise be to God in all circumstances,” Abunada stated. “Honestly, the match was played with great determination from everyone. Praise be to God, Lord of the worlds.”
Meanwhile, Switzerland may feel they were let down by fortune, as they squandered numerous opportunities, with Dan Ndoye notably misfiring in the first half.
The stage seemed set for the Swiss favorites when Abunada collided with Freuler in the six-yard box. After Freuler headed the ball towards goal, he was met by a heavy challenge from Abunada, who was left booked for the foul.
Honduran referee Saíd Martínez awarded the penalty after a lengthy video assistant referee review, while Abunada was treated on the field. Freuler appeared offside when Embolo initially headed the ball, yet FIFA did not release any evidence to justify the onside ruling.
As Michel Aebischer registered a sixth shot on goal for Switzerland, which was cleared off the line deep into first-half stoppage time, Qatar’s forwards had limited opportunities. Akram Afif, the Asian champions’ key player, struggled to find space but managed to create a chance for Edmilson, whose first-time shot was saved by Kobel.
The second half saw Qatar firmly positioned defensively, and despite a series of substitutions for both teams, the match remained stagnant. But everything changed when Ahmed delivered a stunning cross that Khoukhi attacked, leading to Muheim’s equalizing header, igniting celebrations among the Qatari supporters.
While Switzerland may still harbor hopes of advancing from the group, their inability to secure victory poses a significant challenge for coach Murat Yakin. They will face Bosnia and Herzegovina at Los Angeles Stadium on Thursday, while Qatar, who exhibited strong defensive play against the skilled Swiss, will travel north to challenge Canada in Vancouver on the same day.
Despite an official attendance of 67,966, many seats remained unoccupied at the 70,000-capacity venue, home to the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers, even as the crowd reached the upper levels. Red-clad Swiss fans were out in force, as the team’s captain, Granit Xhaka, and veteran full-back Ricardo Rodriguez surpassed Xherdan Shaqiri with their record 13th World Cup appearance, with only the late equalizer marring their milestone match.
