Qatar stun Switzerland 1-1 in 2026 World Cup upset
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- Qatar drew 1-1 with Switzerland on day three of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, producing the tournament's first major upset in Group B play.
- Boualem Khoukhi scored a last-minute equalizer for Qatar, earning the nation their first-ever World Cup point and their second-ever World Cup goal (the first came in a 3-1 loss to Senegal in 2022).
- Breel Embolo had given Switzerland the lead with a first-half penalty, but Qatar's late surge denied the Swiss a win in their opening match.
- Julen Lopetegui is managing Qatar at only their second World Cup appearance, eight years after being sensationally fired as Spain coach days before the 2018 tournament for secretly agreeing to join Real Madrid.
- Lopetegui had been unbeaten in 20 matches as Spain manager before the 2018 dismissal; Spain replaced him with interim Fernando Hierro, won the group, but lost to host Russia on penalties in the Round of 16.
- After being sacked by Real Madrid in October 2018, Lopetegui rebuilt his career at Sevilla (winning the 2020 Europa League) and managed Wolverhampton and West Ham before being hired by Qatar.
Why it matters: Qatar, appearing in only their second World Cup and playing a Switzerland side widely favored, earned just their second goal and first point in tournament history — a milestone for the program. The result also completes a personal redemption arc for Lopetegui, who was denied a World Cup touchline in 2018 after Spain's federation fired him for his Real Madrid deal.
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