The Switzerland national football team has suffered a late setback in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Against Qatar, the team led by captain Granit Xhaka could only manage a 1:1 (1:0) draw at the Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.

What happened?

Switzerland had initially looked strong. In the 17th minute, Breel Embolo put his team ahead with a penalty kick. The former Gladbach player, who had joined the team late due to visa issues, showed no signs of rust and converted the penalty.

Why is this important for Switzerland?

The team had to come to terms with Qatar's first-ever point in a World Cup. The dropped points are »extremely bitter. This is not the start we had hoped for. It's a shame«, said Swiss goalkeeper Gregor Kobel after the match.

What's next?

Switzerland must now prepare for their next group stage match against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Thursday (21:00 CET). The team led by coach Murat Yakin must improve significantly to stay on course for the knockout stage.

StatValue
Last resultSwitzerland 3-4 Germany (2026-03-27)
Recent form3W-1D-1L (LWWWD, most recent first)