Five Things We Learnt from Qatar 1-1 Switzerland

Five Things We Learnt from Qatar 1-1 Switzerland

1: Lacklustre Switzerland Punished At the Death

Switzerland would have seen the first fixture against Qatar as the perfect game to kick off their World Cup Campagi nadn get off to the perfect start with three points, although it did not turn out that way in the end.

Things certainly got off to the perfect start for the Swiss, as after going close a number of times in the early stages, a penalty was awarded 15 minutes in which was converted by striker Breel Embolo.

However, they failed to add to that opening goal, squandering multiple big chances to double the lead, they would see themselves punished right at the death, as Qatar captain Boualem Khoukhi fired in a header in the 94th minute to steal the three points away from Switzerland and levelling the game for a point each.

QATAR LEVEL IT LATE 🇶🇦

Boualem Khoukhi makes Switzerland pay for their missed chances! pic.twitter.com/YLTqVzPgkE

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 13, 2026

2: Abunada In Goal Shines

Despite conceding the penalty after colliding with Swiss midfielder Michel Aebischer, but Qatar goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada proved to be the most important player for his side, the goalkeeper made several huge saves throughout the match to keep the score at 1-0, making six in total to keep his team in with a chance of taking a result.

And in the end, those saves would prove crucial, as Qatar capitalised on Switzerland's inability to finish their chances, by grabbing an equaliser against the run of play with just two minutes to play.

3: Varges: The Constant Swiss Danger

Despite eventually falling short of winning, Swiss winger Ruben Vargas was the most dangerous and exciting player on show all throughout the contest.

The 27 year-old Sevilla star was a danger all afternoon, having two shots and creating five chances from the left-hand side, and completed two out of his three dribbles whilst not being dispossessed once all match.

Vargas was certainly Switzerland's biggest threat of the match, and will need him to be on top of his game in order to claim a much needed victory in the next two group games after failing to secure three points.

4: Switzerland Fail To Find Shooting Boots

Switzerland were majorly dominant throughout the contest, having much more possession, chances, shots and xG than their opponents.

In total, the Swiss had 26 shots in total, seven of them on target, totalling in an expected goals (xG) tally of 3.27. A far cry from Qatar's 0.64 as they managed just six shots in total throughout the match.

But despite that dominance, Switzerland failed to take any of the chances they carved out from open play. With the only goal from the Swiss coming from Breel Embolo's penalty early in the first half.

Qatar goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada made a number of strong saves, but there were also chances, such as Dan Ndoye's in the early stages of the first half that blazed over the bar, that Switzerland will be kicking themselves over.

5: Heat Playing A Factor?

Heading into this World Cup, there was much talk about whether the contidtions would play a factor. Much of the United States and Mexico in particular can reach scorching hot temperature's in summer months, and this match was perhaps the first where it was properly on show.

The match took place at midday in San Francisco, California, with the temparture at kick-off said to be in the just north of 30 degrees celcius.

Despite a high-intense opening stage of the contest, which saw multple big chances go missing and eventually a penalty scored, with high pressing particualry from the Switzerland side, the second half saw a clear tone down in the overall intensity.

QATAR LEVEL IT LATE 🇶🇦

Boualem Khoukhi makes Switzerland pay for their missed chances! pic.twitter.com/YLTqVzPgkE

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 13, 2026

And it was maybe partly due to that factor that Switzerland saw themselves eventually punished, with Qatar more used to the intense contidtions than the Swiss, meaning they could perhaps keep up higher levels of intensity towards the latter stages of the match, which may have contributed to their last minute equaliser.