Al Annabi Earns Historic Point Against Switzerland in World Cup Opener
The Qatar national football team secured a 1-1 draw against Switzerland in its opening match at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium in Santa Clara, as part of the first round of Group B at the 2026 World Cup.
Switzerland appeared on course to claim all three points after taking the lead in the first half through a penalty converted by Breel Embolo in the 17th minute. However, Al Annabi salvaged a dramatic equaliser in the dying moments through defender Boualem Khoukhi in the fifth minute of stoppage time.
Earlier, Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina had also played out a 1-1 draw.
As a result, Qatar, Switzerland, Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina all finished the opening round with one point each.
The Qatar national team made a bright start to the match and nearly took the lead when Akram Afif capitalised on a defensive mistake, racing through on goal before firing from inside the penalty area. However, goalkeeper Gregor Kobel produced an excellent save in the second minute.
Switzerland gradually took control of the game. Ricardo Rodríguez delivered a cross from the left flank to Dan Ndoye, whose effort from inside the penalty area sailed over the bar in the 10th minute. Two minutes later, Manuel Akanji tested goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada with a strike from the edge of the area, but the Qatar goalkeeper reacted well.
Swiss pressure eventually paid off when the referee awarded a penalty after midfielder Remo Freuler was brought down by goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada. Breel Embolo stepped up and successfully converted the spot-kick in the 17th minute.
The tempo of the match dropped in the second half despite Switzerland’s attempts to extend its advantage. Juan Vargas tested the alertness of Abunada, while another effort from Embolo drifted wide of the target.
As the match approached its conclusion, Qatar found a dramatic equaliser. Boualem Khoukhi rose above the Swiss defence to meet a precise cross from Homam Al Amin and headed the ball into the net in the fifth minute of added time.
With the draw, Al Annabi collected its first-ever point in World Cup history, leaving all four teams in Group B level on one point following the earlier draw between Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Qatar will now face two decisive Group B matches, taking on co-hosts Canada in Vancouver on June 18 before concluding the group stage against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Seattle on June 24.
Following the match, Qatar head coach Julen Lopetegui expressed his satisfaction with the performance of Al Annabi and the result, stating:
“Simply being here is a historic achievement in itself. Earning a point today against Switzerland, which I consider one of the best national teams in Europe due to its technical stability and the quality of players competing in the strongest leagues, is extremely important. To achieve that, you need special circumstances like those we experienced today. We managed to overcome difficult periods and did not lose our balance after falling behind, which proved decisive. In the end, we were rewarded with that goal that secured a historic point, one we had never achieved before.”
The top two teams from each group will qualify for the Round of 32, alongside the eight best third-placed teams across the tournament’s 12 groups.