Qatar vs Switzerland 2026 FIFA World Cup (Group B) Match Centre, Stats & Review

Group B completed their first fixtures with a Qatar vs Switzerland match that saw Switzerland dominate with a million shots on goal but finish with just a penalty. They would have regretted a 1-0 win for later in the tournament but were shocked in the last minutes of the game by a Qatar goal. The Qatar vs Switzerland ends 1-1 and only Qatar will be happy with that result. A real sw-missed opportunity for Switzerland here. They would have been unhappy enough at 1-0.

Qatar vs Switzerland Match Summary

Here are the bits and pieces and minutes that mattered during the game, to provide you with as much information as you need in one minute, or at least allow you to fast forward the SBS coverage.

Setting the scene.

The early kick off for a Super Sunday of four games and about 12 hours straight of football. It looks a hot day and the early daytime kickoff will suit one country more than the other when it comes to heat. Talking of heat, it’s not the hottest game on paper, but maybe we’ll be surprised. After Canada and Bosnia drew yesterday, the winner can take the lead of Group B with a win.

2^nd Min – First half chance of the game falls to Qatar’s Edmílson Junior who make a half effort at scoring, the Qatari forward dispossessed the Qatar defence on the edge of the box and but the shot went into the approaching keeper and that was that.

6^th Min – Proper first attempt for Switzerland as Aebischer blasts one at the goal from just inside the box, Qatar keeper stops it well.

8^th Min – Broadcast shows Qatar manager Julen Lopetegui on the sidelines in one of those classic World Cup moments when you realise where that guy is. We’re sure he’s in Qatar just for the football.

12^th Min – Couple of decent chances for Switzerland, one was a shot from the middle of the box that went a few metres higher than optimal, the other a decent free kick that got a bobble out of Qatar keeper. Mental note for later. But fans paying thousand of dollars are going to get better value than the other half.

13^th Min – PENALTY / VAR CHECK????

Switzerland have another chance where the Swiss player almost chips over the keeper’s head, but the Qatar keeper kind-of smashes into him and the ball goes wide anyway. The referee points to the spot, but then VAR review too double checking for a penalty on the contact, in the meantime the potentially guilty Qatar keeper lies on the ground like he’s been shot. Penalty is confirmed, so lucky the keeper isn’t playing for other countries where bad play can lead to you being shot.

16^th Min – GOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLL

Embolo steps up and convert the penalty with a casual kick to the keeper’s right. A goal has been coming for the Swiss, but arrives via the tournament’s first penalty.

QATAR 0 SWITZERLAND 1

26^th Min – First ad, I mean hydration break, and it feels like how many Switzerland will win by at this stage. They’ve had a few more chances since the goal, and will have many more. Totally dominant with Qatar offering little.

28^th Min – Qatar have their first corner and don’t do a great deal with it, but the most interesting point was a Qatari player falling to the ground inside the penalty area. Don’t worry about a penalty though, he was struck by his own player running past. Nothing magic water won’t fix.

37^th Min – Switzerland keep pressuring and have half chances without scoring. This may be leading to some boredom in the crowd as a Mexican Wave breaks out. We wonder if ICE are standing by to throw anyone out doing such a foreign thing.

43^rd Min – Qatar’s best chance to score so far sees a good save from the Swiss keeper with his legs from a half break and shot on the six yard box for Edmílson Junior who looks like only Qatari capable of something exciting. The subsequent corner is A League at best and Qatar remain scoreless. A few minutes later Switzerland have an even better shot which needs an even better save from the Qatari keeper.

45^th Min +2 Another chance goes begging for Switzerland, and this was less Qatar keeper and more about Vargas just missing to the right. Switzerland should be a few more up at this stage. And another begging even more to be scored a few seconds before half time. Aebischer gets the ball for free in the penalty area and sends it goalward but is cleared off the line by Qatari defender.

HALF TIME – QATAR 0 SWITZERLAND 1

For those in Australia the TV coverage in the half time gap showed a creepy compilation of the same penalty kick for what felt like at least a minute. Just the ref’s whistle and crowd cheering. No commentary. Weird. Although, it is SBS. There’ll be a Swedish Eagle Detective Show with a blind coroner coming up soon.

49^th Min – First proper chance for Switzerland and it is a Xhaka rocket from outside the box, which looks to clip the keeper’s finger on the way through, but maybe not as if the finger did touch the ball at that pace it would probably be broken, and Qatar can’t afford for this keeper to come off. The Qatar keeper probably deserves to be named at this point – Mahmoud Abunada. It’s not we don’t want to, but don’t have time usually.

60^th Min – Switzerland continue to press Qatar without any real threat. Qatar make a few substitutions and to be fair, they need to do something.

67^th Min – The ad, I mean hydration break is called, and Switzerland may regret not taking more of their chances. Some great shots on goal just going wide or being saved in this second half so far. They are lucky Qatar are offering very little in attack, but need to score another to rule out bad luck.

75^th Min – Qatar have their first decent attack in what feels like a long time. They even get inside the penalty area but the Qatari attacker keeps falling over in his attempt to get a shot on goal or get a penalty. He gets neither.

76^th Min – Switzerland go straight down the other end and Embolo has a great chance to score, he beats the keeper close on the left but the shot rolls just outside the post.

81^st Min – Another Swiss rocket, this time from Manzambi who just misses to the right. Switzerland still looking for that match sealing second goal. Rocket shots appear popular, and why not given the news of Elon Musk’s Trillion dollar wealth.

90^th Min – A shot on goal from Qatar, pretty meek effort that rolls gently to the keeper, but could have been one for the blooper reel if it went in. It didn’t.

90^th Min + 4 – GOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

Qatar have done the unthinkable and snatched a goal and point with seconds to go. A hopeful cross into the box was met by a charging Boualem Khoukhi who smashed the ball into the net for an unlikely equaliser. Good goal though, poor defending from Switzerland. Qatar have their keeper to thank for keeping them this close.

QATAR 1 SWITZERLAND 1

90^th Min + 7 – Hang on, corner for Switzerland. It gives them a few more shots to add to their tally of regret, as the Qatar defence and keeper hold on.

FULL TIME – QATAR 1 SWITZERLAND 1

Here’s as many stats as we could steal from other places just for you.

The World Cup continues with a game that might not necessarily get everyone, or anyone outside Qatar and Switzerland, but with the two big teams playing each other in the other game, this is the match to bank a win that will probably be good enough to make the next round. This 2026 FIFA World Cup Group B Qatar vs Switzerland Match Centre will provide an overview of the before and after with a Pre-Game Summary, Match Review and Post-Match stats.

Qatar vs Switzerland Preview

STATS SUMMARY

RATINGS

The Gurgler’s in-house Ratings system based on H2H stats, World Cup stats, recent records, qualifying and past World Cup performance is here to make choosing the winner easier, or have something to blame.

BARELY INTERESTING STATS

Qatar have won the only game between these sides.

That’s one more win than Qatar have had at World Cups. But at least they’ve scored a World Cup goal.

Switzerland are unbeaten in their last six World Cup openers (W3 D3). In 2010 they beat eventual winners Spain.

Switzerland are 1/1 for World Cup games v Asian nations, with a 2-0 win over South Korea in 2006.

Qatar qualified 4^th in their initial qualifying group, but topped the fourth round qualifying group.

Switzerland topped their UEFA group conceding two goals in six games.

Qatar have a W4 D2 L3 record in North America, Switzerland’s record is W9 D4 L5.

MATCH PREDICTION

QATAR 0 SWITZERLAND 3