Today, the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) confirmed that a technical malfunction occurred during the match between Qatar and Switzerland, which was held in the city of San Francisco, in the opening round of the second group competitions in the 2026 World Cup finals, currently being held in the United States, Mexico and Canada, and ended in a 1-1 draw.
FIFA explained, in a statement published on the FIFA Media platform, that the technical malfunction did not affect the work of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology during the calculation of the penalty kick for the Swiss team, noting that the usual review procedures were followed completely and accurately.
The statement added that reviewing the footage via VAR technology did not show any case of offside by the attacking player in the shot that immediately preceded the penalty kick, which confirms the validity of the arbitration decision taken in the match.
Swiss striker Berle Mbulu had given his country the lead after he successfully executed the penalty kick in the 17th minute, but the Qatari team equalized in stoppage time through Khoukhi Boualem’s header, which was diverted by Swiss defender Miro Mohaim, so the Qatari team snatched the valuable equalizing point in the 90th + 4th minute.
FIFA explained, in a statement published on the FIFA Media platform, that the technical malfunction did not affect the work of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology during the calculation of the penalty kick for the Swiss team, noting that the usual review procedures were followed completely and accurately.
The statement added that reviewing the footage via VAR technology did not show any case of offside by the attacking player in the shot that immediately preceded the penalty kick, which confirms the validity of the arbitration decision taken in the match.
Swiss striker Berle Mbulu had given his country the lead after he successfully executed the penalty kick in the 17th minute, but the Qatari team equalized in stoppage time through Khoukhi Boualem’s header, which was diverted by Swiss defender Miro Mohaim, so the Qatari team snatched the valuable equalizing point in the 90th + 4th minute.
