Switzerland and Qatar played to a 1-1 draw in their opening match of the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign. Switzerland took the early lead through a 17th-minute penalty converted by Breel Embolo, awarded after a foul by Qatari goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada. Despite controlling possession throughout the match, the Swiss team failed to extend their advantage, missing several scoring opportunities. Qatar capitalized on this inefficiency, with Boualem Khoukhi scoring a late equaliser in stoppage time. The result represents a significant setback for Switzerland and a surprising point for Qatar. The draw leaves both teams with one point in Group H of the qualifying stage. This unexpected outcome highlights the competitive nature of the 2026 World Cup qualification process.