FIFA World Cup

QAT Qatar Qatar - SUI Switzerland Switzerland

Qatar Qatar

Switzerland Switzerland

M. Muheim
90' +4'

17'
B. Embolo

San Francisco Bay Area Stadium(67,966 Spectators)

Hector Said Martinez Sorto

Full-time: Qatar 1-1 Switzerland

The World Cup has its first shock result after Khoukhi's late bullet header. Switzerland will rue their missed opportunities to score, as on another day, they could easily have scored four or five. Nevertheless, Qatar clung on, thanks in part to some fine goalkeeping from Abunada, who has helped his side secure a historic point.

End of second half

Full-time

90'

+ 5

Qatar equalise in added time!

Incredible! Switzerland should have killed this game off a long time ago, but their finishing was wasteful and they've been punished for it. It all comes from superb work down the left channel, as El-Amin beats his man and floats in a teasing cross towards the back post. Khoukhi rises highest and powerfully heads the ball past Kobel to make it 1-1. What a point this would be for Qatar! Can they hang on with a minute to go?

90'

+ 4

Miro Muheim

OWN GOAL!

1:1

90'

+ 1

Stoppage time

There'll be a minimum of six minutes added on. Somehow, Switzerland still haven't quite wrapped up the three points yet.

90'

Zakaria fires in a lovely cross...

Sadly for the Swiss, nobody arrives at the back post to turn it into the net. What a waste.

89'

Double Swiss change

Jashari is on for Freuler, while Hamburg star Muheim replaces Rodríguez at left-back.

89'

Substitution

Ardon Jashari

Remo Freuler

89'

Substitution

Miro Muheim

Ricardo Rodríguez

88'

Substitution

Hassan Al-Haydos

Edmilson Junior

86'

Embolo crowded out

The Swiss forward has a decent chance to wriggle away from several Qatar defenders and get a shot off. However, he gets crowded out and, rather wearily, stumbles over the ball inside the penalty area.

82'

Manzambi from distance...

The Freiburg star's powerful shot, from around 25 yards, flashes past the Qatar keeper. Fortunately for Abunada, it's also just off target.

80'

Both sides make changes

Amdouni replaces the lively Vargas for Switzerland, while Manai comes on for Qatar.

79'

Substitution

Zeki Amdouni

Rubén Vargas

79'

Substitution

Mohammed Manai

Assim Madibo

76'

Vargas forces a save

The winger tries to find the far corner of the net from the left side of the box, but Mahmoud Abunada is equal to it.

Narrowly wide from Embolo!

Switzerland miss another big chance to score. Manzambi has an instant impact, laying the ball on a plate for Embolo inside the Qatar box. His tame effort goes through Abunada's legs, but rolls just wide of the near post.

69'

Hydration break

The second of two hydration breaks is currently taking place at a sweltering Levi's Stadium. Despite Switzerland's best efforts to double their lead, the scoreline remains 1-0 with just over 20 minutes remaining.

67'

Xhaka fires wide

The former Leverkusen man collects the ball just outside the Qatar penalty area and decides to shoot. He hits it well, but the ball is always curling away from goal.

Manzambi time

The Freiburg youngster is on for the final 25 minutes or so. Can he stake his claim for a start against Bosnia?

66'

Substitution

Johan Manzambi

Dan Ndoye

66'

Substitution

Fabian Rieder

Michel Aebischer

62'

Wasteful Switzerland

xGoals

The xGoals value of a club is calculated from the sum of all goal probabilities (goals and shots on goal) of that team. During a match, it’s easy to see whether the club is performing better than expected (goals > xGoals) - or maybe even higher (xGoals > goals).

The Rossocrociati really should have built on their 1-0 lead, as the xG values demonstrate.

xGoals

0.46

2.45

Goals

60'

Triple change

Qatar head coach Julen Lopetegui has opted for a trio of substitutions, with Alaaeldin, Boudiaf and Fathy all coming on for the final 30 minutes.

60'

Substitution

Ahmed Alaaeldin

Yusuf Abdurisag

60'

Substitution

Karim Boudiaf

Jassem Gaber

60'

Substitution

Ahmed Fathy

Ayoub Aloui

Familiar story for Qatar

Just like in the first half, Qatar's forwards are feeding off scraps. The Swiss continue to dominate the ball in search of a second goal that would surely kill this tie off.

53'

Rodríguez threatens

The veteran left-back's set-piece delivery is putting Qatar under some pressure. His free-kick from the right channel is turned away for another Swiss corner, which is also well defended by the 2023 Asian Cup winners.

49'

Elvedi effort deflected away

Vargas fires in a teasing free-kick from the left, which finds the head of Elvedi, whose effort at goal is deflected over the top. The resulting corner comes to nothing, but moments later, Xhaka's arrowing long-range shot whizzes narrowly over Abunada's crossbar.

46'

Second half gets going

Qatar have got 45 minutes to try and get something out of this game. Despite Switzerland's numerous chances to make it 2-0, they're still well in it.

Kick-off!

Half-time: Qatar 0-1 Switzerland

The favourites to win Group B lead at the break after Embolo's well-taken spot-kick. It could have been very different if Edmilson Junior had been more clinical, but it's safe to say Switzerland are good value for their lead. Ndoye will be hoping to get on the scoresheet in the second period, having missed three or four big chances.

Half-time

45'

+ 6

Cleared off the line!

Embolo is played in but can't turn the ball home from an acute angle. As such, he cuts it back to Aebischer with the goalkeeper stranded off his line, but several Qatar defenders get back on the goal-line to scramble his shot away to safety. Top defending!

45'

+ 3

Almost 2-0!

Embolo beautifully lays the ball into the path of Vargas, who makes a bursting run into the Qatar box. He shoots from six yards out, but his effort is well saved by the toe of Abunada - who turns the ball away for a corner. He has kept his side in it...

45'

+ 1

Stoppage time

There will be an additional six minutes of play before the half-time break.

Zakaria booked

The former Gladbach midfielder brings down Madibo on the counter and is yellow-carded.

42'

Edmilson Junior goes close again!

The Qatar forward forces another good stop from Kobel, who is able to stick a foot out to prevent an equalising goal. This game is far from over while it remains 1-0.

42'

Yellow card

Denis Zakaria

39'

Vargas the danger man

The Sevilla winger has had his opposite number on toast so far. Vargas' latest contribution comes in the form of a corner kick, in which he picks out Akanji in the penalty area, whose shot is well blocked.

36'

Mexican Wave time

A Mexican Wave is currently making its way around the stadium - which tells you a lot about the one-sided nature of this game so far.

Qatar penned in

The Swiss are searching for a second goal. They patiently move the ball around in the final third, with Ndoye eventually firing wide after a clever Embolo flick. Qatar are struggling to get out of their own half at the minute.

30'

Laye heads over

Qatar's star man Afif whips in a dangerous cross from the left side, which finds the head of Laye on the edge of the Swiss six-yard box. However, his header is far too high to trouble Kobel.

28'

Switzerland dominating the ball

Qatar have struggled to retain possession so far, having largely been reduced to launching counter-attacks.

Passes

145

Hydration break

We've reached the first of two hydration breaks in today's game. Switzerland will be pleased with the first 25 minutes, as they've taken the lead, and created a host of other chances to score. It's been very one-sided since Edmilson Junior's shot in the third minute for Qatar.

23'

Gabar booked

Gabar picks up an early yellow card. The midfielder takes out Vargas on the left side just before the penalty area and thus prevents a promising attack by Switzerland.

23'

Yellow card

Jassem Gaber

22'

Third time unlucky for Ndoye

The Swiss forward is looking lively today. His attacking moves are flowing nicely and he was through on goal again there, drilling a shot off the goalkeeper after a lovely give-and-go with Embolo.

Embolo scores!

The Rennes forward makes no mistake from the spot. He waits for Abunada to dive, and slots the ball into the opposite corner. Switzerland lead 1-0 despite missing several big chances to score in the opening few minutes.

17'

Breel Embolo

GOAL!

0:1

Penalty

Goal probability

Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.

77 %

Distance to Goal

The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.

11 m

16'

Penalty awarded

No offside given! Here comes the penalty, to be taken by Embolo...

16'

Yellow card

Mahmoud Abunada

14'

Penalty to Switzerland...or is it?

Freuler lifts the ball over the onrushing Abunada, who cleans out the Swiss midfielder and gives away a penalty. However, there is a suspicion of an offside. Meanwhile, the Qatar stopper is booked for his foul.

10'

Ndoye fires over

He could have scored a brace already. Switzerland are starting to dominate proceedings thanks to sharp work from Vargas down the left channel. The winger drives to the byline and cuts the ball back to an unmarked Ndoye in the penalty area - but his shot flies well over the crossbar.

Ndoye denied!

The Nottingham Forest forward is played in behind the Qatar backline and has a decent chance to get a shot off. He tries to find the far corner of the net with a powerful drive, but Abunada gets a strong hand to the ball and turns it away to safety.

Big chance for Qatar!

What a start that would have been for the underdogs! Former BVB man Akanji makes a mistake inside his own half and allows Edmilson Junior to run through on goal. However, Kobel rushes out well to smother the Qatar forward and save his effort. It's a huge let-off for the Swiss...

We're underway!

Here we go then - can Switzerland's strong Bundesliga contingent get them off to a winning start at the 2026 FIFA World Cup?

Kick-off!

Here come the anthems

The sun is shining in California ahead of this Group B clash. The respective national anthems are complete - we're just moments away from kick-off...

Familiar faces

Alongside those who currently play their club football in the Bundesliga, there are a host of other Swiss stars who will be familiar to German football fans. Chief among them is captain Xhaka, who won the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen back in the 2023/2024 season.

Weather warning issued

It’s going to be a hot one today, with the US National Weather Service having issued a heat advisory ahead of kick-off in San Francisco. Could that have a major impact on the result? Only time will tell.

0:12

Watch: Kobel on the biggest of stages

The Switzerland and Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper has a habit of stepping up when his side needs him most - can he do the same today?

The venue

This game will take place at the 71,000-capacity San Francisco Bay Area Stadium.

More on that Switzerland team

Dortmund No.1 Gregor Kobel starts for Die Nati, with Gladbach defender Nico Elvedi in front of him as part of a three-man backline. The big surprise is that Freiburg attacker Johan Manzambi is only on the bench; the 20-year-old has been in fine form, but must wait a little longer to make his World Cup debut

Starting line-up: Qatar

Formation:5-3-2

Qatar subs

Zakaria, Barsham, Mendes, Albrake, Alhussein, Hatem, Boudiaf, Alganehi, Fathy, Alaaeldin, Muntari, Alhaydos, Ali, Mohammed, Manai

Starting line-up: Switzerland

Formation:3-4-3

Switzerland subs

Mvogo, Keller, Muheim, Widmer, Coemert, Amenda, Jaquez, Manzambi, Jashari, Sow, Rieder, Fassnacht, Okafor, Amdouni, Itten

Opportunity knocks for Switzerland

As Canada and Bosnia drew 1-1 in the Group B curtain-raiser in Toronto on Friday, Johan Manzambi (pictured) and his Swiss compatriots could steal a march on the rest of the teams in their section with a victory here - in what is their most winnable fixture on paper - against the nation ranked 56th in the world by FIFA.

0:09

Watch: Here's why Kobel is the Swiss No.1!

How they got here: Qatar

Qatar had to go through three rounds of Asian qualifying to reach just their second World Cup after qualifying as hosts in 2022. They breezed through the first round, but finished fourth in their group of six in the second round to require another qualification stage. There, they topped their group of three to book their ticket here.

How they got here: Switzerland

As has often been the case for the Swiss, it was a smooth qualification process. They finished top of their UEFA qualifying group without losing a game to reach their 12th finals, and their fifth in succession.

4:03

Watch: Manzambi on his way to the top

The midfielder has risen through the ranks at Freiburg and has what it takes to go far in the world of football.

Switzerland's Bundesliga contingent

Numerous players plying their trade in Germany have been selected for the Swiss group for this World Cup. Gregor Kobel (Borussia Dortmund), Miro Muheim (Hamburg), Silvan Widmer (Mainz), Nico Elvedi (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Johan Manzambi (Freiburg), Fabian Rieder (Augsburg), Aurèle Amenda (Eintracht Frankfurt), Luca Jaquez (VfB Stuttgart) and Cedric Itten (Fortuna Düsseldorf) are all amongst Murat Yakin's 26.

Welcome!

Follow all of the action as Qatar and Switzerland face off in their Group B FIFA World Cup 2026 opener in Santa Clara, California on June 13 (kick-off: 9.00pm CEST).