Switzerland Seek Revenge Against Qatar in World Cup Opener

Switzerland opens its World Cup campaign on Saturday at 10:00 p.m. against Qatar in the first round of the tournament, and the team is looking to settle a score from their only previous meeting. The two sides last met eight years ago in Lugano in a friendly, when Qatar won 1-0 with a late goal in the 86th minute by its star, Akram Afif.

Swiss media highlighted the matchup as a chance for revenge, saying Switzerland has a reason to get even with Qatar and describing that earlier loss as a “collective disaster” that drew heavy criticism. The article also notes that four days after that defeat, Switzerland beat Belgium 5-2 and secured a place in the Nations League semifinals.

Ahead of the World Cup match, Switzerland’s national team director, Pierluigi Tami, said the squad had struggled to adjust to the conditions. “We needed some time to find our rhythm because of the heat and the jet lag,” he said, adding that “in the last few days there has been real progress in the intensity and quality of the training.” The piece was published on June 13, 2026, at 00:43.