48.
22:16
Vargas takes a free kick near the corner flag towards the goal. A Qatari header clears for a corner, which is why the Swiss is allowed to continue with a corner. The second stationary ball also remains safe.
46.
22:13
The game continues at Levi’s Stadium without any changes.
46.
22:12
Kick-off of the 2nd half
45.
10:00 p.m
Half-time conclusion:
Switzerland leads 1-0 against Qatar at the break! Julen Lopetegui’s team somehow managed to make it to half-time and probably didn’t know how they could be down by just one goal. Despite countless chances in the game, it was a penalty that put the national team in the front. Breel Embolo’s goal (17th) has made the difference so far, but Murat Yakin can be anything but satisfied with how his team has converted their chances. The Swiss missed countless opportunities and should have led significantly higher. The 2022 World Cup hosts, for their part, also had two promising opportunities, but otherwise just run after them and hardly get any relief due to the poor passing rate (59%) with only 25% possession of the ball. Qatar will have to show a different face in the second half if they are to score their first World Cup points in their fourth attempt.
45.
9:56 p.m
End of 1st half
45.
9:55 p.m
Great opportunity for Aebischer
45.
9:55 p.m
Qatar is swimming! This time Abunada is already beaten. The goalkeeper comes out of his box, but is then played out by Embolo. The striker crosses again to Aebischer, who aims at the right corner from ten meters. But a defender is in exactly the right place on the line and prevents the second goal from being conceded.
45.
9:55 p.m
Vargas fails against Abunada
45.
9:55 p.m
The Swiss are exploiting opportunities! Qatar is swimming and is always one step too late defensively in this phase: Embolo is played with his back to the goal, grabs the ball and lays it off perfectly for Vargas. From five meters, Vargas can’t get the ball past the goalkeeper, who deflects it with an outstanding foot reflex for a corner.
45.
9:52 p.m
Abunada parries against Ndoye
45.
9:52 p.m
Abunada under constant fire! Now it’s the national team’s turn again and wants to increase the score before the half-time whistle. Ndoye fails once again with a hard left-foot shot from 15 meters past the Maroons keeper.
45.
9:50 p.m
Official injury time (minutes): 6
43.
9:50 p.m
Chance for Edmilson
43.
9:49 p.m
Offensive sign of life from Qatar! Out of nowhere, Edmílson Junior is found in the middle with a low cross. The striker doesn’t hit the ball quite cleanly, but still forces Sommer to defend strongly from ten meters out.
42.
9:47 p.m
Yellow for Zakaria
42.
9:47 p.m
Yellow card for Denis Zakaria (Switzerland)
Zakaria runs over Abdurisag in a counterattack and rightly receives a warning.
41.
9:46 p.m
The ball is always gone far too quickly for the 2023 Asian champions: With an underground passing rate of 54%, no goal threat can be created.
38.
9:44 p.m
Murat Yakin’s team dominates the game. Qatar doesn’t achieve much from the game. Will the Maroons rally before the break?
35.
9:41 p.m
Embolo passes the heel to Ndoye in the penalty area. The winger tries again, his shot is blocked to the side.
33.
9:39 p.m
The national team is still busy on the wings: Ndoye and Vargas keep causing problems for the Qataris with their liveliness.
30.
9:36 p.m
Laye hits a free kick from the halfway line into the opponent’s box and gets at least a corner after Elvedi clears. During the cross, Ró-Ró collides unfortunately with his own teammate and falls to the ground. The central defender has to be treated briefly but can continue.
27.
9:32 p.m
It continues with a corner for Switzerland, who plays the standard short. The subsequent cross is easy prey for Abunada, who plucks the ball out of the air.
24.
9:31 p.m
After 24 minutes there is the drinking break, which has been mandatory since this tournament, at a sunny 28 degrees.
23.
9:28 p.m
Yellow card for Jassem Gaber (Qatar)
Gaber has his hand in Vargas’ face on the left side of the penalty area and sees the second booking for Qatar.
21.
9:28 p.m
Great opportunity Zakaria
21.
9:28 p.m
Zakaria misses the double blow! This happens too quickly for the Maroons, who are just spectators as the national team puts in a fantastic combination: Ndoye brings the ball into the box from the right. Embolo puts the leather down with the first contact, Zakaria then tries it from a tight angle against Abunada, who closes the short corner and prevents the next setback.
20.
9:25 p.m
The Swiss deservedly lead after 20 minutes and positioned themselves deeper after the goal. Qatar is now trying to work its way into the game, but is still looking for security in its own possession.
17.
9:22 p.m
0:1 Embolo transformed
17.
9:22 p.m
Tooor for Switzerland, 0-1 by Breel Embolo
This is striker search and Embolo takes responsibility. The 29-year-old takes his time when running up, delays again and then easily slides into the left corner. Abunada chooses the wrong side.
16.
9:22 p.m
Yellow card for Mahmoud Abunada (Qatar)
The person responsible also receives a yellow card.
16.
9:22 p.m
Was the fouled person offside? On the first replay it looked as if Freuler was slightly offside for Embolo’s header, but the penalty stands up to scrutiny.
14.
9:19 p.m
Penalty Switzerland
14.
9:19 p.m
Penalty for Switzerland! A cross is passed on by Embolo to Freuler, who pokes the ball past Abunada and is then cleared by the keeper. There was a real crash and both players had to be treated.
12.
9:18 p.m
The national team takes a free kick to the left of the box and it becomes very unpleasant for Abunada: Akanji extends the low standard with his foot, but the keeper remains calm and has the central ball in his follow-up.
10.
9:16 p.m
Switzerland is sniffing leadership! Vargas shakes off his opponent with a start on the left wing and moves to the baseline. From there, the Sevilla player puts it perfectly into the box, where Ndoye puts the slightly bouncing ball well over the box.
10.
9:14 p.m
Next chance Ndoye
9.
9:14 p.m
The first corner of the game goes to the Swiss. That’s one thing for specialist Rodríguez, who hits the stationary ball in a high arc onto the second post. The defense of the 2023 Asian champions is on the job and can rectify the situation.
6.
9:12 p.m
Great opportunity Ndoye
6.
9:12 p.m
Ndoye checks Abunada! The national team responds on the other side and comes with a lot of speed: Aebischer sees Ndoye who has started and passes through perfectly to the winger. Under pressure, the right-footer shoots from a half-right position, but the Qatari goalkeeper is down quickly and deflects the ball to the side.
2.
9:10 p.m
Degree E. Junior
2.
9:10 p.m
Edmílson Junior misses the huge opportunity! Akanji fails to clear his own box and the striker grabs the ball. He then tries to push the ball through Kobel’s braces, but he can block the ball with his leg.
1.
9:08 p.m
Switzerland gets off to a good start in the green and white away jerseys: The national team wins the ball in counter-pressing and Ndoye wants to get through on the right side of the baseline. The outside player gets an arm in the face, but the referee’s whistle remains silent.
1.
9:06 p.m
Referee Martinez released the game five minutes late.
1.
9:05 p.m
Game start
8:55 p.m
Qatar and Switzerland faced each other in an international match only once. In a 2018 test, the Maroons won 1-0 with a goal from Akram Afif. The Al-Sadd striker is Qatar’s record goalscorer with 40 goals and is once again the focus of Qatar’s offensive game today.
20:42
The Spanish coach of the Qataris is making a change to his starting eleven compared to the test a week ago: Madibo is preferred over Fathi in the central midfield. After the disappointing 1-1 draw against Australia, the entire offensive line of the national team was replaced: After arriving late due to visa problems, striker Embolo was back in the team in time and started in the center. On the wings, Vargas and Ndoye move into the starting eleven for Freiburg’s Manzambi and Amdouni.
8:38 p.m
Julen Lopetegui’s team beat Oman and the United Arab Emirates in the fourth and decisive qualifying round. Since then, the 2023 Asian champion has not been able to win a game and has been waiting for a success for five games. The Maroons were held to a goalless draw against El Salvador in their final test before the tournament and are therefore still searching for their World Cup form.
8:30 p.m
The national team prevailed in the qualification in a group with Kosovo, Slovenia and Sweden and remained undefeated along the way. The Swiss impressed above all with their defensive strength and only conceded two goals in the six games. However, in the last test before the World Cup, Switzerland did not get beyond a 1-1 draw with Australia.
20:21
After finishing without a point at the 2022 World Cup at home, the Qataris now want to take something countable with them in San Francisco for the first time. But it will be anything but easy against the Swiss, coached by Murat Yakin, who are seen as the clear favorites to win the group.
Hello and welcome to the opening game of the Swiss national team in the 2026 World Cup. In the second game of Group B, the ball will roll between Qatar and Switzerland from 9:00 p.m. CET in the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium!