The Goal.com Winners & Losers in Qatar v Switzerland

In partnership with

GOAL

·13 June 2026

The Goal.com Winners & Losers in Qatar v Switzerland

Switzerland dominated possession and created 26 shots but were held to a 1–1 draw after Boualem Khoukhi's stoppage-time header cancelled out Breel Embolo's early penalty. The point was Qatar's first in World Cup history, secured through defensive discipline and a dramatic late intervention. GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from Qatar v Switzerland.

Winners

Rubén Vargas (Switzerland)

Rubén Vargas was Switzerland's most dangerous attacking threat throughout his 79 minutes on the pitch. The winger's direct running repeatedly troubled Qatar's defensive right side, and he forced Mahmoud Abunada into multiple saves including a spectacular splits stop in first-half stoppage time.

OneFootball Videos

Vargas drew fouls and created overloads with his dribbling ability, including the challenge that earned Jassem Gaber a yellow card in the 23rd minute. He delivered most of Switzerland's set pieces, sending dangerous corners and free-kicks into Qatar's box. His shot inside the box at 75' forced another good save from Abunada.

Switzerland's attacking intensity visibly dropped after Vargas was withdrawn for Zeki Amdouni in the 79th minute. While his individual quality went unrewarded with a goal or assist, his relentless attacking intent stretched Qatar's defence throughout and created the sustained pressure that almost secured victory for Murat Yakin's side.

Boualem Khoukhi (Qatar)

Boualem Khoukhi delivered the most significant moment in Qatar's World Cup history. The captain rose to meet Homam Al-Amin's cross in the 90+4' minute and headed firmly past Gregor Kobel, securing Qatar's first-ever World Cup point in their fourth finals match.

Before his dramatic intervention, Khoukhi marshalled Qatar's backline throughout 90 minutes of sustained Swiss pressure. He won aerial duels and showed excellent positioning to cover for teammates, sweeping up danger in the defensive third as Switzerland peppered the compact Qatari defence with shots from all angles.

Khoukhi's header was only Qatar's second goal in World Cup competition, following Mohammed Muntari's strike in 2022. The goal transformed what would have been another pointless defeat into tangible progress for Julen Lopetegui's squad. His combination of defensive solidity and match-changing finish made him Qatar's outstanding performer.

Loser

Dan Ndoye (Switzerland)

Dan Ndoye had more chances than any Switzerland player but repeatedly failed to convert. His most glaring miss came in the 11th minute when, well-positioned inside the box, he fired a first-time left-footed shot over the crossbar from close range—wasting what should have been a routine finish.

The pattern continued throughout his 65 minutes. Ndoye forced saves from Mahmoud Abunada in the 6th, 21st, and 45th minutes with shots inside the box, but none found the net. Another effort went wide in the 35th minute after he struck the ball poorly, and he missed the target again at 51'.

Ndoye's pace and movement consistently created openings, which made his finishing failures all the more costly. Switzerland dominated Qatar and created ample opportunities to put the match beyond doubt. Instead, his profligacy kept Qatar in contention until Khoukhi's late header earned the draw that Ndoye's misses made possible.