Big surprise in San Francisco. Qatar’s football team ended the match with Switzerland in a draw, 1-1, in Group B of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Asians had the first chance of the game in the 2nd minute, when Akanji made a mistake and Edmilson Junior took the ball, but he shot weakly and Kobel was able to catch the ball that had passed between his legs.
From that moment, the Swiss took the initiative and dominated the confrontation. They did so sterilely, however, and their inefficiency cost them in the end.
After Ndoye’s shot over the goal, from the 10th minute, the goalkeeper Abunada fouled Freuler in the box, 4 minutes later, and the referee Said Martinez dictated a penalty for the Europeans. Embolo, the man who received his visa later than his teammates, converted. Switzerland was 1-0 in the 17th minute, and the spectators began to think only about what difference this team will win.
Possession in the first half was 75 percent. Which shows how categorically they dominated. It’s just that at halftime their advantage was minimal. And the main “culprit” was the Qatari goalkeeper Abunada, who opposed the shots of Ndoye and Vargas, in overtime.
The Swiss did not kill themselves after the break
In the second half, the Europeans played against the clock. A bad decision. The goalscoring opportunities that Xhaka (min. 67) and Vargas (min. 75) had are worth remembering.
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In the 81st minute, Manzambi shot wide, and in the fifth minute of extra time, Al Amin crossed from the left and captain Khoukhi scored with a header from inside the box.
Thus Qatar won the first point at the final tournament of the World Cup. It should be noted that in group B, all the teams have one point, respectively 1-1 goal difference (the other match was Canada – Bosnia Herzegovina 1-1).
Qatar – Switzerland 1-1
SAN FRANCISCO (June 13, 2026) * Stadium: Bay Arena * Spectators: 67,966 * Referee: Martinez said * Assistant referees: Walter Lopez, Christian Ramirez (all from Honduras) * Referee no. 4: Oshane Nation (Jamaica) * Reserve assistant referee: Caleb Wales (Trinidad and Tobago) *
Video Referee: Guillermo Pacheco (Mexico) * Video assistant referees: Erick Miranda (Mexico), Leodan Gonzalez (Uruguay)
They scored: Boualem Khoukhi (min. 90+5), respectively Breel Embolo (min. 17 – penalty).
Yellow cards: Abunada (min. 16), Gaber (min. 23), Zakaria (min. 42).
Qatar: 1. Mahmoud Abunada – 13. Ayoub Aloui (20. Ahmed Fathy, 60), 2. Pedro Miguel, 16. Boualem Khoukhi (captain), 14. Homam Ahmed – 5. Jassem Gaber (12. Karim Boudiaf, 60), 23. Assim Madibo (26. Mohamed Manai, 79), 4. Gueye Issa Laye – 8. Edmilson Junior (10. Hasan Alhaydos, 88), 11. Akram Afif – 15. Yusuf Abdurisag (7. Ahmed Alaaeldin, 60). Coach: Julen Lopetegui.
Unused reserves: 21. Salah Zakaria, 22. Meshaal Barsham – 3. Lucas Mendes, 18. Sultan Al-Brake, 25. Alhashmi Alhussein, 6. Abdelaziz Hatim, 17. Ahmed Alganehi, 9. Mohammed Muntari, 19. Almoez Ali, 24. Tahsin Mohammed.
Coach: Julen Lopetegui
Switzerland: 1. Gregor Kobel – 6. Denis Zakaria, 5. Manuel Akanji, 4. Nico Elvedi – 20. Michel Aebischer (22. Fabian Rieder, 66), 8. Remo Freuler (14. Ardon Jashari, 89), 10. Granit Xhaka (captain), 13. Ricardo Rodriguez (2. Miro Muheim, 89) – 11. Dan Ndoye (9. Johan Manzambi, 66), 7. Breel Embolo, 17. Ruben Vargas (23. Zeki Amdouni, 79). Selector: Murat Yakin.
Unused reserves: 12. Yvon Mvogo, 21. Marvin Keller – 3. Silvan Widmer, 18. Eray Comert, 24. Aurele Amenda, 25. Luca Jaquez, 15. Djibril Sow, 16. Christian Fassnacht, 19. Noah Okafor, 26. Cedric Itten.
Coach: Murat Yakin
Yellow cards: Abunada 16, Gaber Abdulsallam 23 / Zakaria 42
Referee: Said Martínez (Honduras)
