Abunada Creates Sweet Qatar Moment at World Cup

SANTA CLARA, United States : Qatar’s resilience against Switzerland was largely driven by the outstanding performance of goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada as they drew 1-1, creating a historic moment for his team at the World Cup.

The 26-year-old goalkeeper, who made his international debut last year, produced six crucial saves as Qatar fought back to score a late equaliser and secure their first ever point at the World Cup.

Abunada, who was also named Player of the Match, described the moment as the most meaningful of his career.

“I dedicate this moment to my mother and my family,” he said, fighting back tears as he received the award.

Coach Julen Lopetegui’s decision to start Abunada raised eyebrows given his limited experience compared to Meshaal Barsham, who played a key role in Qatar’s 2023 Asian Cup triumph.

Abunada, who is of Palestinian descent, exceeded expectations in only his seventh international appearance despite facing high pressure against a team accustomed to advancing to the knockout stages of major tournaments.

That resilience was evident when Abunada bounced back from an early mistake in the 14th minute after he brought down Remo Freuler, allowing Breel Embolo to convert the resulting penalty.

However, he redeemed himself with several crucial saves, including denying a close-range effort from Ruben Vargas.

After being promoted to Al-Arabi’s first team, Abunada was called up to Qatar’s national squad in 2020 but failed to cement his place as the first-choice goalkeeper.

Just as he was finding his rhythm, he suffered a serious back injury that caused him to miss the entire 2023–24 league season after undergoing a second surgery in Munich.

His situation did not improve much the following season as he made only nine league appearances, and it was reported that he even considered retiring due to his prolonged injury struggles.

However, he made a comeback by joining Al-Rayyan and returned to form, featuring in 20 of 22 league matches and finishing the 2025–26 season as the best goalkeeper.

Abunada’s perseverance paid off as he is now Qatar’s first-choice goalkeeper at the World Cup, making his debut in a major tournament against Switzerland. – REUTERS

Berita Harian