World Cup: Qatar makes history with dramatic tie vs. Switzerland in Bay Area
The first ever World Cup game played in Levi’s Stadium was moments away from going to the Swiss.
But an extra-time goal off the head of Qatari Boualem Khoukhi in the 94th minute tied things after it appeared Switzerland would cruise to three points in its Group B opener.
The contest ended moments later with Qatar earning a stunning point with a 1-1 tie — giving the nation its first ever point in World Cup play. It was the Maroons’ second World Cup appearance in their soccer history after automatically qualifying as the host nation in 2022.
“We are very proud of ourselves,” said Qatari forward Akram Afif, who helped set up the tying goal. “First point in our history. Hopefully we can get three points the next game, so it will be double the history.”
Afif took a pass and then streaked up the left side, setting up defender Homam Ahmed cross into the box. Khoukhi, a 35-year-old who has been in the Qatari national team program since 2013, scored the historic goal by drilling the header while leaping over a Swiss defender.
The entire Qatari team left its bench and joined him in celebration as the surprising number of fans in attendance celebrated.
The result represented a stunning draw for Switzerland, who ended with 68% possession and a 26-7 shots advantage. They were regularly in Qatar’s zone and could have scored far more goals than the one they got off a first-half penalty.
“Every draw feels like a loss, for sure,” said Swiss captain Granit Xhaka, whose team reached the quarterfinals in the last three World Cups. “... I believe that sometimes (these) results are good for the head, to come back to reality, to see that we need to do much more than today.”
Switzerland, the heavy favorites to win Group B, controlled most of the first half with a 14-4 advantage in shots while controlling 75% of the possession. They had seven shots on goal but led 1-0 with a goal coming on a penalty from striker Breel Embolo, who made headlines coming into the World Cup when his travel visa into the United States was delayed by two days while he was denied boarding for the team’s flight from Zurich to Los Angeles.
The goal came with controversy. The penalty came after Embolo headed a cross toward Remo Freuler, who was then run into by Qatari keeper Mahmoud Abunada, earning a yellow card leading to the penalty. The penalty was upheld by the video assistant referee system, but the broadcast noted that Embelo might have been offside before fielding the cross. No definitive view was ever shown during the game on the Fox broadcast or in the stadium.
Despite the yellow card leading to the goal, Abunada was named “Man of the Match” while making five saves as Switzerland threatened to make it 2-0 throughout.
“This game was very hard for everyone,” Abunada said. “I need to thank my friends, my teammates, my managers, of course Qatari fans, they deserve everything.”
World Cup crowd braves hot California sun
The stadium was mostly full, with small pockets of empty seats scattered around the stadium. The announced attendance was 67,966 after FIFA announced before the tournament that max capacity at the stadium would be 68,324.
Fans went to the concourses and air-conditioned areas quickly at halftime while the temperatures were in the low 80s for the noon kickoff.
“I didn’t expect so many people to be here,” Xhaka said. “This shows the country loves football — loves soccer, how you (Americans) say it.”
Afif agreed when asked about the Qatari supporters making their first trip international trip to see World Cup play.
“It was very amazing,” he said. “We are thankful for them. It was a long trip, maybe 16 hours from our country. But we are very happy. Hopefully we can get three points (in the next match) and make them even more happy.”
FIFA had its marks all over Levi’s Stadium — which was is being called “San Francisco Bay Area Stadium” for the tournament, due to FIFA rules involving corporate sponsorships — with the giant Levi’s logos covered in white tarps, while “Stadium” signs remained above the scoreboards and outside the main suite tower facing the parking lot.
Qatari fans were clad in traditional white thobes in their supporter section behind the north goal, while Swiss supporters wore red in the second deck behind the south goal.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino was also spotted at the game, taking in the action from a suite.
This story was originally published June 13, 2026 at 2:18 PM.
