Qatar secured their first-ever FIFA World Cup point after captain Boualem Khoukhi scored a stoppage-time equaliser in a 1-1 draw against Switzerland on Saturday.
Khoukhi rose highest to head home a cross from Homam Ahmed in the 94th minute, cancelling out a first-half penalty by Swiss striker Breel Embolo. Despite dominating the match and registering 26 attempts on goal compared to Qatar’s seven, Switzerland were unable to hold on for victory.
The result leaves Group B finely balanced, with all four teams level on one point following the 1-1 draw between co-hosts Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The point marked a milestone for Qatar, whose World Cup debut in 2022 ended without a win on home soil.
Qatar’s players celebrated wildly after the late equaliser, handing coach Julen Lopetegui a memorable result in his first World Cup match in charge.
“We achieved one dream when we arrived here, to be here, and now today is another little dream,” Lopetegui told reporters. “And we have the right to continue having the dream.”