Qatar and Switzerland get things underway in San Francisco on a busy third day of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
England has had the majority of its stolen equipment recovered after it went missing in Kansas City ahead of the Three Lions’ opening training session.
Later, Brazil take on Morocco and Haiti face Scotland as Group C plays its first games.
Check out the full World Cup schedule here in Australian timesABC Sport podcast: A chaotic World Cup opener for a chaotic World Cup
Follow all the action in our live blog.
Sun 14 Jun 2026 at 5:04am
Sun 14 Jun 2026 at 5:04am
Live updates: Qatar vs SwitzerlandSun 14 Jun 2026 at 6:39am
Sun 14 Jun 2026 at 6:39amSun 14 Jun 2026 at 6:39am
71′ Akram Afif goes on a run
He might need a map to negotiate this part of the pitch because he’s not been up here before.
And in the end, he turns down a blind alley and is dispossessed.
Arguably that was Qatar’s best moment of the half.
Sun 14 Jun 2026 at 6:37am
Sun 14 Jun 2026 at 6:37am
68′ Chance Switzerland, drinks break
Vargas has been so good today – and he sparks another little moment for Switzerland, cutting the ball back to Granit Xhaka.
He’s on the left side of the box and curls a really nice-looking cross towards the back post, but the ball was a bit too deep for a cross and a bit too curly for a shot.
We’re gunna have a drink.
(Getty Images)Sun 14 Jun 2026 at 6:35am
Sun 14 Jun 2026 at 6:35am
66′ Double change for the Swiss
Fabian Rieder and Johan Manzambi replace Michel Aebischer and Dan Ndoye.
Manzambi is the 20-year-old star from Freiburg that a lot of people are quite excited about, so I am looking forward to seeing what he can do.
Sun 14 Jun 2026 at 6:32am
Sun 14 Jun 2026 at 6:32am
62′ Superb from Vargas
That is really impressive from the Swiss number 17.
He loses the ball in the attacking third, but then wins it back and embarks on a mazy run past a couple of Qatari defenders before he is slashed down on the edge of the penalty area.
The Qatari’s instantly say he’s diving, but there was clear contact.
The free kick is send into a dangerous area but Qatar clears.
Sun 14 Jun 2026 at 6:29am
Sun 14 Jun 2026 at 6:29am
59′ Triple change for Qatar
I mean, they need to do something and that something is to make a triple change.
Ayoub Al Oui is replaced by Ahmed Fathy.
Jassem Gaber
is replaced by Karim Boudiaf.
And Yusuf Abdurisag gives way for Ahmed Alaa to come on.
Sun 14 Jun 2026 at 6:21am
Sun 14 Jun 2026 at 6:21am
53′ Incessant pressure from Switzerland
There just seems to be no way out for Qatar at the moment – every time Switzerland come forward there are 11 Qatari shirts in and around their own penalty area, with no outlet ball at all.
They are hanging on for dear life here.
Even then, Yusuf Abdurisag was up field, a lone wolf in the Swiss half, but couldn’t control a ball that has hacked towards him from deep more by luck than judgement.
Sun 14 Jun 2026 at 6:19am
Sun 14 Jun 2026 at 6:19am
50′ Chance Switzerland
Dan Ndoye gets the ball inside the penalty area – not sure how Qatar didn’t clear that cross as it came over and I think the fact that it did arrive at Ndoye’s feet surprised him a bit, but he still manages a shot towards goal that flies just wide.
Sun 14 Jun 2026 at 6:17am
Sun 14 Jun 2026 at 6:17am
49′ Trio of Swiss chances
(Getty Images)
Rubén Vargas swings in a free kick from the left side and Qatar heads behind for a corner.
Rubén Vargas then trots over to the other side of the field and delivers a corner that Qatar clears.
Then a monster effort from Granit Xhaka, who delivers a piledriver from 30 metres out that fizzes just over the crossbar.
Sun 14 Jun 2026 at 6:14am
Sun 14 Jun 2026 at 6:14am
46′ Qatar gets us underway in the second 45
Horrible deep kick off from Qatar.
Just long and deep and into the corner as if they’re kicking off an NRL match. With the lack of possession the Qatari’s had in that first half, you’d have felt they’d have liked to have a touch of the ball or two to start the second half.
Sun 14 Jun 2026 at 6:13am
Sun 14 Jun 2026 at 6:13am
Should the Swiss penalty have stood?
There seems to be some discussion going on in the UK about whether there was an offside in the build up to the move that resulted in the Swiss penalty.
“Surely my vision isn’t that blurred,” former Arsenal and England defender Lee Dixon said on ITV.
“Unless I missed something, he looked offside from the header.”
I have to admit, when I was watching that was something I thought was going to be looked at.
Turns out I wasn’t the only one.
“We all think it here [that it was offside],” Gary Neville tells ITV.
“Everybody at home thinks it. Fifa are the host broadcaster and they have the semi-automatic decision that they can show us.
“There is a massive question over that because it is offside in my eyes until they prove me different.”
There was a lengthy VAR check which I assumed would have included the automated VAR review, but I can see how it might have been missed in amongst all the penalty chat.
Sun 14 Jun 2026 at 6:10am
Sun 14 Jun 2026 at 6:10am
Half time stats
The Swiss are absolutely dominating this game.
And the stats reveal by just how much.
Switzerland have had 14 shots, six of which have been on target for an xG (expected goals) of 2.27.
Qatar have an xG of 0.45, having had four shots just two of which were on target.
There’s no doubt that a combination of desperate defence and exceptional goalkeeping is keeping Qatar in this game.
Switzerland are dominating the midfield battle – Qatar have barely had a touch in the middle third of the pitch it seems – and the neat interplay up front from the attacking trio is a joy to behold.
Sun 14 Jun 2026 at 5:58am
Sun 14 Jun 2026 at 5:58am
HT: Switzerland tearing Qatar apart but leads just 1-0
(Getty Images)
That was a dominant half of football for Switzerland.
But they only lead by a single goal after some heroic goalkeeping and last-ditch defending.
Switzerland have had all the possession, almost 75 per cent of it in fact, and have had 14 shots on goal.
But they have only scored the one, a penalty by Breel Embolo mid way through the opening half.
Good display so far, but can the Swiss get a couple more to make sure of the win?
Sun 14 Jun 2026 at 5:58am
Sun 14 Jun 2026 at 5:58am
45+6′ Cleared off the line!
The Swiss simply have to score there!
Once again it’s lovely build up play, the Qatari defence all over the place.
Mahmud Abunada came out to close down the space, missed out on getting the ball and then was in no man’s land.
Switzerland centred the ball and, with the goal at his mercy, Michel Aebischer hits a defender with his shot and the ball is hammered away to safety.
Sun 14 Jun 2026 at 5:55am
Sun 14 Jun 2026 at 5:55am
45+3′ BRILLIANT SAVE AGAIN!
Brilliant from Switzerland.
Brilliant football, attacking with pace and accuracy and cutting the Qatari lines to shreds.
Rubén Vargas is played in and lashes a shot towards goal from inside the six yard box.
And it’s another brilliant save from Mahmud Abunada.
He somehow gets his legs out to deflect the ball past the post.
Remarkable dexterity to make that stop.
Sun 14 Jun 2026 at 5:53am
Sun 14 Jun 2026 at 5:53am
45+1′ Good save!
Mahmud Abunada has been very impressive today.
Aside from giving away a penalty.
Dan Ndoye uses his strength to give himself the time to allow the ball to fall under his control and then powers a shot towards goal.
Mahmud Abunada makes a very good save though to keep his side in it.
There will be six additional minutes.
Sun 14 Jun 2026 at 5:50am
Sun 14 Jun 2026 at 5:50am
43′ Good save!
Edmilson Junior latches onto a through ball and shoots first time from the right side of the penalty area and forces a tidy save from the Swiss keeper.
(Getty Images)
Akram Afif then has a furious argument with the assistant referee on that far side of the pitch about where the ball is being placed for the corner kick. I can’t imagine what he’s arguing about – and why the assistant is taking his protests.
Sun 14 Jun 2026 at 5:48am
Sun 14 Jun 2026 at 5:48am
42′ Zakaria yellow card
Qatar look to break through the middle after a blocked shot in their own penalty area.
Denis Zakaria making a very cynical block to shut that down.
Sun 14 Jun 2026 at 5:47am
Sun 14 Jun 2026 at 5:47am
41′ Good save again Mahmud Abunada
The Swiss were so patient, building up and pouncing down the left side.
Michel Aebischer is played in and just lets the cross get away from him, firing a ball that ends up going goalwards and Abunada does really well to turn it away for a corner.
Sun 14 Jun 2026 at 5:45am
Sun 14 Jun 2026 at 5:45am
39′ Nervousness at the back for the Swiss
Gregor Kobel gets a back pass but then has to really rush to poke the ball out of play for a throw in after a very rapid closing down from the Qatari attack.
It’s the only time Switzerland have looked a little bit vulnerable, with some defensive wobbles at the back.
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