Asian Cup holders Qatar snatched a historic first World Cup point on Saturday, securing a dramatic 1-1 draw against Switzerland with an equalising goal in the fourth minute of stoppage time. The late strike by Boualem Khoukhi spoiled a dominant performance by the Swiss, who had taken the lead in the first half.

Several Qatari players collapsed to the ground in celebration after Khoukhi's header found the net, marking a significant moment for the nation in its World Cup campaign. The draw provides a morale boost for Qatar, who were facing a defeat despite their late efforts.

Switzerland took the lead in the 17th minute through a penalty converted by Breel Embolo. The spot-kick was awarded after Qatar's goalkeeper, Mahmoud Abunada, fouled Embolo in the box. Abunada received a yellow card for the incident but was able to continue after a brief period of concern on the field.

Embolo, who had faced a visa delay just over a week prior to the match due to a past conviction, calmly slotted the ball into the upper left corner, igniting celebrations among the Swiss supporters in attendance at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium. Switzerland had dominated possession throughout the match, creating numerous scoring opportunities but failing to convert them into a larger lead.

The match took place on an unseasonably warm June afternoon at Levi’s Stadium, home of the NFL's San Francisco 49ers. The venue, which recently hosted the Super Bowl, had thousands of empty seats scattered throughout the stands, a stark contrast to the 70,971 fans who attended a Copa America group match between Brazil and Colombia at the same stadium two years prior.

Switzerland goalkeeper Gregor Kobel was called into action early, making a save in the second minute against Edmilson Junior. He was again tested in the 90th minute with a close-range attempt by Ahmed Alaaeldin, but the Swiss defence ultimately conceded late in the game.

Switzerland entered the tournament aiming to surpass their previous World Cup performance, where they reached the round of 16 before a heavy 6-1 defeat to Portugal. Their qualifying campaign saw them remain unbeaten against Sweden, Kosovo, and Slovenia, demonstrating a consistent and experienced side under coach Murat Yakin.

The draw leaves both teams looking to build momentum in their upcoming group fixtures. For Qatar, the historic point signifies a step forward on the world stage, while Switzerland will be left to rue missed chances and a late defensive lapse.