Switzerland were forced to settle for a point after Qatar fought back to earn a 1-1 draw in their opening Group B match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Saturday.
The Swiss appeared on course for victory after taking the lead through Breel Embolo, but Qatar responded in the second half to secure a valuable point in a closely contested encounter.
Switzerland enjoyed the better of the early exchanges and looked comfortable after moving ahead, with captain Granit Xhaka controlling the tempo in midfield. However, Qatar showed resilience and gradually grew into the game, finding the equaliser to spark celebrations among their supporters.
The result leaves Group B finely balanced after the opening round of matches, with both teams taking a point from a game that could prove crucial in the race for the knockout stages.
Switzerland will now turn their attention to their next group fixture against Bosnia and Herzegovina, while Qatar face co-hosts Canada in another key encounter
