SANTA CLARA, Calif. — After a disappointing home World Cup four years ago, Qatar redeemed themselves with a stunning stoppage-time goal, securing a surprising 1-1 draw against Group B favorites Switzerland on Saturday.
The Swiss had a glaring miss that could haunt them.
A headline from French public broadcaster RTS proclaimed: “QATARSTROPHE.”
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In a dramatic finish, Switzerland’s Miro Muheim was deemed to have scored an own goal under pressure from Boualem Khoukhi in the fourth minute of injury time, granting Qatar their first-ever World Cup point in front of 67,966 fans at Levi’s Stadium.
This goal marked the fourth-latest equalizer in World Cup history.
“Every draw feels like a loss,” acknowledged Switzerland midfielder Granit Xhaka. “We need to reflect on today. Our performance was insufficient to secure a win.”
Several Qatari players celebrated exuberantly, falling to the ground as others embraced in joy.
“I am extremely proud of our mentality and discipline today,” stated Qatar coach Julen Lopetegui. “We adhered to our plan, and while we were a bit lucky at times, having belief and a touch of fortune is crucial in life and football.”
Switzerland’s Breel Embolo found the net first, scoring from the penalty spot in the first half, just days after successfully resolving a visa issue to enter the U.S. The Swiss registered 26 shots on goal, their highest total in a World Cup match since 1966, but squandered numerous opportunities.
When asked if the outcome was disheartening, Switzerland midfielder Denis Zakaria responded, “Absolutely. We did not play the way we needed to. We had many chances and failed to capitalize. We pay dearly for those missed opportunities.”
In the 13th minute, Embolo was fouled by Qatar goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada, who was cautioned with a yellow card. Abunada briefly lay motionless on the field before recovering.
Embolo netted from the penalty spot in the 17th minute, sending the Swiss fans into joyous celebrations.
The 29-year-old forward had to quickly secure a visa at the U.S. embassy in Bern following a travel mishap due to a past conviction that only finalized recently.
Switzerland controlled possession on a pleasantly warm June afternoon, with sprinklers activating during a break in the first half.
Despite the vibrant atmosphere, numerous seats remained unoccupied in Levi’s Stadium, which hosted the Super Bowl just four months prior. In contrast, a Copa América match two years earlier featured a full house of 70,971 fans for Brazil vs. Colombia.
Switzerland’s goalkeeper Gregor Kobel made a crucial save early in the match and again in the 90th minute to deny a close-range attempt from Ahmed Alaaeldin.
Switzerland is determined to surpass their previous round-of-16 exit four years ago, where they lost 6-1 to Portugal, a match memorable for a hat trick by Gonçalo Ramos in place of star player Cristiano Ronaldo and which led to an apology from midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri to the fans.
The Swiss team showcased consistency and experience during qualifiers, going unbeaten against Sweden, Kosovo, and Slovenia. Under coach Murat Yakin, they secured their sixth consecutive World Cup appearance and have not missed a tournament since 2002, though they have never advanced past the quarterfinals.
Meanwhile, Qatar’s journey to this World Cup involved playoff victories over the United Arab Emirates and Oman after failing to advance through their Asian qualifying group.
In the 2022 tournament, Qatar made history as the first host nation to lose all group stage matches, suffering defeats against Senegal, Ecuador, and the Netherlands, finding the net just once in a 3-1 defeat to Senegal.
The Associated Press and ESPN Research contributed to this report.