In the opening round of the FIFA World Cup group stage, Qatar took on European heavyweight Switzerland. A late goal from Khoukhi earned Qatar a 1–1 draw, allowing the team to secure a valuable point.
The result not only gave Qatar its first point in this World Cup campaign but also highlighted the team’s improvement and resilience following a difficult period.
Reflecting on the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which Qatar hosted, the nation made its first appearance in the tournament’s main stage. However, its performance fell short of expectations. Drawn into a group with Ecuador, Senegal, and the Netherlands, Qatar lost all three matches and finished bottom of the group. The team managed just one goal while conceding seven, making it one of the tournament’s weakest-performing sides.
Qatar’s campaign began with a 2–0 defeat to Ecuador, making it the first host nation in World Cup history to lose its opening match. In the second game against Senegal, Qatar scored its first-ever World Cup goal but still suffered a 3–1 loss. The team then concluded the group stage with a 2–0 defeat to the Netherlands, ending its tournament without a point and failing to progress beyond the first round.
As a result, the draw against Switzerland marked a historic milestone, as it earned Qatar its first-ever point in a FIFA World Cup main tournament.