Qatar went winless in three group-stage matches at the 2022 World Cup as host

Qatar's Bualam Khoukhi celebrates with a diving gesture after scoring a dramatic equalizer in stoppage time of the Group B opener against Switzerland at the 2026 North America World Cup on Sunday. [Reuters]
Qatar's Bualam Khoukhi celebrates with a diving gesture after scoring a dramatic equalizer in stoppage time of the Group B opener against Switzerland at the 2026 North America World Cup on Sunday. [Reuters]

Qatar claimed their first-ever World Cup point in dramatic fashion Sunday, drawing 1-1 with Switzerland in their Group B opener at the 2026 North America World Cup.

Trailing 0-1 heading into stoppage time, Qatar leveled through a Bualam Khoukhi header at Bay Area Stadium in San Francisco, California, to secure a result that had seemed out of reach for the 56th-ranked side against 19th-ranked Switzerland.

Qatar had gone winless in all three group-stage matches when they hosted the 2022 World Cup.

The stronger Swiss side struck first in the 17th minute. After winning a penalty in the box, Breel Embolo stepped up and slotted the ball into the bottom-left corner to give Switzerland the lead.

Switzerland pressed their advantage after the opener, dominating possession and maintaining a one-sided attacking display into the second half. Despite a string of chances, they could not add to their tally, while Qatar held their defensive shape and refused to push forward even after a hydration break.

Qatar finally shifted to attack as regulation time neared its end. In the 45th minute, Ahmed Alaaeldin Abdelmotaal received a pass from Akram Afif and attempted a right-footed shot from the center of the penalty area, only to be denied by the goalkeeper.

Then, four minutes into stoppage time, Khoukhi met a cross from Hoam Ahmed and headed home to pull Qatar level.

With the result, all four teams in Group B share one point apiece, after Canada and Bosnia-Herzegovina also drew 1-1 on Saturday.


yjc@heraldcorp.com