Qatar Scores Historic First World Cup Point with Late Goal Against Switzerland
- Qatar earned its first-ever World Cup point on June 13, 2026, playing to a 1-1 draw against Switzerland in a Group B fixture.
- The Toronto Star reported that Khoukhi's header in stoppage time finalized the scoreline, preventing a Swiss victory and granting Qatar a point in the standings.
- Khoukhi scored the equalizer using a header during the closing stages of the game.
Qatar earned its first-ever World Cup point on June 13, 2026, playing to a 1-1 draw against Switzerland in a Group B fixture. Boualem Khoukhi scored a stoppage-time header to secure the result, according to reports from ESPN and the Toronto Star.
The goal occurred during the final moments of the match. The Toronto Star reported that Khoukhi’s header in stoppage time finalized the scoreline, preventing a Swiss victory and granting Qatar a point in the standings.
How did Boualem Khoukhi secure the draw?
Khoukhi scored the equalizer using a header during the closing stages of the game. ESPN and the Toronto Star both confirmed the goal took place in stoppage time, ending the match in a 1-1 deadlock.
The late strike shifted the momentum of the Group B clash. While Switzerland held the lead for the majority of the contest, the last-second effort by Khoukhi ensured the points were shared.
Why is this result historic for Qatar?
The draw marks the first time Qatar has earned a point in the FIFA World Cup. Al Jazeera and ESPN both characterized the result as a historic milestone for the nation’s football program.
Prior to the June 13, 2026, match against Switzerland, Qatar had not secured a point in any previous World Cup appearance. This result represents the first tangible progress in the team’s tournament history.
How did sports media outlets frame the result?
Different media outlets emphasized different aspects of the draw. TSN and Sportsnet.ca focused on the shock value of the late goal, with TSN reporting that Qatar stuns
Switzerland and Sportsnet.ca describing the draw as stunning
.
In contrast, Al Jazeera and ESPN prioritized the statistical significance of the event. These outlets framed the match around the achievement of the historic first World Cup point
rather than the surprise of the timing.
The consistency across all five reporting outlets confirms the final score of 1-1 and the identity of the goalscorer as Boualem Khoukhi.