As the highest rated team in Group B, the Swiss team played overwhelmingly against Qatar in the first half. They took the lead from the 17th minute thanks to Embolo from the penalty spot. In the first half, midfielder Dan Ndoye almost scored a hat-trick for Switzerland after clear chances, and Michel Aebischer had a shot that was missed on the goal line right before halftime.
In the second half, Switzerland still dominated, but they could not take advantage of the opportunities well. Tragedy came to the European team in the 90+5 minute, when center-back Boualem Khoukhi attacked, jumped high and headed dangerously, sealing a 1-1 draw for Qatar. This result helped Qatar get their first point in World Cup history.
After the match, the Swiss team expressed regret for missing too many opportunities. "We have nothing to blame for our playing style. Looking at the statistics, we have had 26 shots today but only made the goalkeeper warm up. I think we need to improve accuracy and confidence.
The way we played was as accurate as I imagined. The players took good positions, made good runs and created good chances, but in the end we were not sharp enough in finishing shots. Those are always our strengths, but of course the opponent also knows that," Swiss coach Murat Yakin said after the match.
Meanwhile, captain Granit Xhaka emphasized that the Swiss team must blame themselves for missing many opportunities. He said: "If you don't take advantage of the opportunity from the beginning, they will come back to harm you. Perhaps we also lost patience and felt that we definitely had to score the second goal. We must be smart and experienced enough to maintain the 1-0 score until the end of the match.
We know the Qatar team is waiting for an opportunity. And they got it in the 90+5 minute. At the end of the second half, we lost the rhythm and that could not happen at this level. Now we have to get back to reality. And the reality is, right now, we are far from being able to talk about the championship or the best World Cup ever.
With the 19th position in the world and a squad of players playing for many big clubs in Europe, the Swiss team is considered the strongest team in Group B. Fans and experts all expect them to be able to go deep at the 2026 World Cup, surpassing the best achievement of previous generations in reaching the quarter-finals. But with what they have shown against Qatar, it is clear that Murat Yakin's team still has a lot of work to do.
Meanwhile, coach Lopetegui did not hide his joy when helping Qatar draw with Switzerland. He said: "Just being here is already a historical milestone. Winning one point today against Switzerland, a team that I think is one of the strongest in Europe today, is very important.
We overcame difficult times, did not lose our composure when being led, that is very important, and in the end we were rewarded with a goal that brought us the first point that the team had never had before”.
In the second match of Group B, Qatar will meet co-host Canada, while Switzerland will play Bosnia & Herzegovina.
