The Qatar national team secured a dramatic 1-1 draw against Switzerland in their opening Group B match of the World Cup at Levi's Stadium, scoring an equaliser in the final seconds of the game.
A first-half penalty converted by Breel Embolo had appeared sufficient to give the Swiss a somewhat laborious victory to start their campaign. But Qatar captain Boualem Khoukhi rose to head home in stoppage time, earning the hosts of the 2022 edition their first ever point in the final phase of a World Cup.
The Swiss enjoyed considerable support in Santa Clara, yet numerous seats appeared empty when the teams walked onto the pitch of the 69,000-capacity stadium, home to the San Francisco 49ers. Following the circulation of photographs showing thousands of vacant seats for the Group A match between South Korea and the Czech Republic in Guadalajara, FIFA insisted that the official attendance figures were accurate. The governing body noted that several ticket-holding supporters could be seen standing in the concourses rather than remaining in their assigned seats throughout the match.
Qatar, under the guidance of former Spain manager Julen Lopetegui, had an early chance to take a surprise lead when Edmílson Junior dispossessed Swiss defender Manuel Akanji and found himself one on one with the goalkeeper. However, his shot was directed straight at Gregor Kobel. Dan Ndoye then saw a low drive pushed away by Qatar keeper Mahmoud Abunada before the Nottingham Forest forward sent another first-time effort over the crossbar.
Switzerland were awarded a penalty in the 13th minute when Remo Freuler, following a flicked header from Embolo, was collided with by Abunada, who required medical attention. After a lengthy stoppage and a VAR check for offside, the Rennes attacker Embolo kept his composure and beat Abunada from the spot.
Abunada later produced a superb reflex save to deny Ruben Vargas at the near post. Then, in first-half stoppage time, a shot from Michel Aebischer was cleared off the goal line. Switzerland quickly regained control after the restart, with captain Granit Xhaka sending a long-range effort over the bar. However, as the heat became oppressive, the tempo of the match dropped ahead of the next cooling break.
With fifteen minutes left, Embolo struck the ball into the side netting, and substitute Johan Manzambi narrowly missed the goal. The Swiss paid the price for their lack of efficiency when a deep cross from overlapping left-back Homam Al Amin found defender Khoukhi at the far post, who powered a header into the corner of the net, sparking jubilant celebrations among his teammates and the Qatari bench.
