Qatar secured a surprising 1-1 draw against Switzerland in their opening match of the 2026 World Cup. The encounter took place in Santa Clara, United States, as part of the Group B fixtures. The match remained tense until the final moments of the game. Boualem Khoukhi scored a decisive goal in the 94th minute to level the score. This late strike allowed Qatar to rescue a point from the match. The result provides an unexpected start for the Qatari team in the tournament. Both teams now move forward in the group stage with this result.