Julen Lopetegui Etches FIFA World Cup History For Qatar, Eight Years After Spain Heartbreak

Published 13 June 2026 · sports

Julen Lopetegui Etches FIFA World Cup History For Qatar, Eight Years After Spain Heartbreak Published By, Last Updated: June 14, 2026, 04:51 IST Eight years

Julen Lopetegui Etches FIFA World Cup History For Qatar, Eight Years After Spain Heartbreak Published By, Last Updated: June 14, 2026, 04:51 IST Eight years after being sacked by Spain on the eve of the World Cup, Julen Lopetegui finally had his tournament moment as Qatar earned their first-ever World Cup point. Rapid Read Julen Lopetegui etched history with Qatar at the FIFA World Cup 2026 (GettyImages/X) This really should not have been Julen Lopetegui’s first World Cup. Back in 2018, the Spaniard was sensationally sacked by Spain just two days before their opening match after Real Madrid announced he would take charge of the club at the end of the tournament. One of the most dramatic managerial exits in World Cup history denied him the chance to lead one of football’s traditional giants on the biggest stage. Eight years later, football finally gave him his moment. And it arrived in the most dramatic fashion imaginable.

Lopetegui etched his name into FIFA World Cup history on Saturday as he became the first manager to guide Qatar to a point at the global showpiece, with his side rescuing a stunning 1-1 draw against Switzerland in San Francisco. How It All Unfolded For much of the afternoon, it looked as though Qatar’s wait would continue. Switzerland took the lead in the first half when Breel Embolo converted from the penalty spot after goalkeeper Mahmud Abunada brought down Remo Freuler inside the box. The Swiss controlled large portions of the contest and created enough chances to put the game beyond doubt, but repeatedly failed to deliver the knockout blow. Qatar, meanwhile, offered little going forward and appeared destined for another World Cup defeat. But Lopetegui’s side refused to fold. A Moment Four Years In The Making Deep into stoppage time, with the clock showing 94 minutes, Qatar launched one final attack.

A hopeful delivery into the penalty area found captain Boualem Khoukhi, whose header flew into the net and sparked wild celebrations on the touchline. The goal secured Qatar’s first-ever World Cup point and marked a significant milestone for a nation still trying to shed the memories of its disastrous home tournament in 2022. Back then, Qatar became the first host nation to lose all three group-stage matches, scoring just once in a campaign that raised serious questions about their competitiveness on the world stage. Since then, however, the Asian champions have rebuilt steadily, qualifying for the 2026 tournament on merit and overcoming a turbulent buildup that included cancelled friendlies against Serbia and world champions Argentina due to the conflict involving Iran. After underwhelming warm-up results against Ireland and El Salvador, few expected Qatar to trouble Switzerland. Yet Lopetegui’s men delivered a statement of resilience. Now, with a historic point on the board, the focus turns on whether Qatar can turn one unforgettable moment into something even bigger.