Qatar Saves a Point From the Swiss on a Late Goal

By Daniel Feuerstein | Santa Clara, CA | June 13th, 2026

At Levi’s Stadium, the first match in a four-game day, the second Group B teams will face each other and hope to jump over both Canada and Bosnia & Herzegovina. This was a chess match between two teams that are difficult to break down and were hungry to try and edge one another to gain an advantage to grab three points, and hoping for a top-of-the-group position. When the full 90 minutes came to an end, both sides stood on the pitch and shook hands as the match ended in a one-goal draw and the first draw of the 2026 FIFA World Cup

The Swiss go ahead from the spot

Switzerland had possession of the ball and started to make some passes to get into position for a shot. When the ball was crossed inside the Qatar area, the Swiss attacker was taken down by the Qatari goalkeeper, Mahmoud Abunada, and was booked in the 13th minute. Stepping up to take the spot kick was Breel Embolo; all he did was go to his left and smashed it hard into the back of the net to get the early lead in the 17th minute.

Big header scores the equalizer for Qatar

As the match entered second half stoppage time, Qatar was hunting for that big goal to force the Swiss to drop two points. As the ball was being brought down toward the far side of the pitch, a long looping cross went toward the area and the back post. Then, out of nowhere, Boualem Khoukhi leaps in the air and drills the ball off his head and into the net. While he created the moment for the equalizer, he was behind the Swiss defender Miro Muheim, and as they both were in the vicinity of the ball, Khoukhi hit the ball off Muheim, and it was officially scored as an own goal in the fifth minute of six, in second half stoppage time.

Goalkeepers did well

Both goalkeepers were excellent in this match, making all the stops they were able to make. Mahmoud Abunada of Qatar and Gregor Kobel stopped multiple chances for their respective sides and played excellently inside their own areas. While Abunada only gave up a penalty kick, Kobel had some solid moments until the final minutes of second half stoppage time. After two matches have been played inside Group B, it is now a tie for all four nations earning a point. Each side has scored a goal and allowed a goal to make it all even. The next Group Stage match for these four teams in Group B, Switzerland Vs. Bosnia & Herzegovina at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, then Canada will face Qatar at BC Place in Vancouver on Thursday, June 18th.

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