Qatar made history at the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Saturday, securing the first World Cup point of their nation’s history with a dramatic late equaliser against Switzerland in a 1-1 draw at their Group B opener in Santa Clara, California.

The match got off to an electric start when Switzerland’s Manuel Akanji gifted Qatar an early chance in just the second minute, sending Edmilson Junior through on goal, though his effort was comfortably saved by Swiss goalkeeper Gregor Kobel. The let-off appeared to spark Switzerland into life, and they were rewarded with a penalty in the 13th minute after Qatari goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada brought down Remo Freuler inside the box. Breel Embolo stepped up and converted from the spot, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to give the Swiss a 1-0 lead.

For much of the remainder of the match, Switzerland dominated possession and territory, racking up an astonishing 26 shots over the course of the game. Edmilson came close to levelling for Qatar just before halftime with a low effort that forced another save from Kobel, while in the second half Granit Xhaka rattled the crossbar area with a long-range strike and Embolo found the side netting with another chance. Despite their control of the game, the Swiss were unable to find a second goal to put the contest beyond doubt.

Qatar’s resilience paid off in stunning fashion deep into stoppage time. In the 94th minute, with Switzerland still searching for a second goal, a ball was driven into the box and Qatar captain Boualem Khoukhi rose to meet it, with Swiss defender Miro Muheim inadvertently heading the ball into his own net under pressure from the 35-year-old skipper. The own goal sparked jubilant celebrations on the Qatar bench and secured a famous point for the Gulf nation.

The result is a landmark moment for Qatar, who are appearing in only their second World Cup finals after hosting the tournament in 2022, when they became the first host nation in history to be eliminated in the group stage without a single point. Their preparations for this campaign were reportedly disrupted by regional conflict in the Middle East, meaning Saturday’s clash was just their third match since December of last year. The result is also notable for Spanish coach Julen Lopetegui, who marked his first match in charge of a World Cup side.

For Switzerland, the draw represents a missed opportunity given their dominance for large stretches of the match. Coach Murat Yakin’s side, who are aiming to reach the knockout stages for a fourth consecutive World Cup, will be left to rue their profligacy in front of goal. Both teams now turn their attention to their next fixtures, with Switzerland set to face Bosnia in Los Angeles and Qatar taking on co-hosts Canada in Vancouver, both matches scheduled for Thursday.