June 14, (THEWILL) — Qatar earned the first FIFA World Cup point in their history after a dramatic late equaliser secured a 1-1 draw against Switzerland in their Group B encounter.
After leaving the 2022 tournament on home soil without a single point, Qatar returned to the world stage determined to deliver a different outcome — and did so in memorable fashion.
Switzerland controlled possession for much of the match and threatened repeatedly, but Qatar’s organised defence remained difficult to break down.
The Swiss eventually opened the scoring in the 17th minute when Breel Embolo converted from the penalty spot following a foul inside the area.
Despite spending long periods without the ball, Qatar stayed compact and continued searching for an opportunity to respond.
That moment arrived deep into stoppage time.
Boualem Khoukhi rose highest inside the box to head home a dramatic equaliser and spark celebrations among the Qatar players and supporters.
The goal sealed a historic result, giving Qatar their first-ever World Cup point and marking a significant improvement from their debut campaign in 2022.
For Switzerland, the draw will feel like two points dropped after failing to turn their dominance into victory, while Qatar leave with a result that could prove significant in their Group B campaign.