Breel Embolo
Cameroon-born Swiss forward who plays for Monaco.
Last refreshed: 14 June 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Why did Breel Embolo face a visa dispute before the 2026 World Cup?
Timeline for Breel Embolo
converted a penalty on 17 minutes to give Switzerland the lead
2026 FIFA World Cup: FIFA's hidden VAR graphic ignites row- Why did Breel Embolo not celebrate his goal against Cameroon?
- Embolo was Born in Cameroon and chose not to celebrate out of respect for his birth nation when he scored against them for Switzerland at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.Source: Gulf News / Wikipedia
- What club does Breel Embolo play for?
- Embolo joined Rennes in Ligue 1 in 2025 on a contract running to June 2029.Source: Transfermarkt / Wikipedia
- Did Breel Embolo score at the 2026 World Cup?
- Yes. Embolo converted a penalty in the 17th minute of Switzerland's group opener against Qatar on 13 June 2026, though Qatar levelled in stoppage time to earn their first-ever World Cup point.Source: event
- Why was Breel Embolo blocked from joining Switzerland at the 2026 World Cup?
- Embolo was initially blocked from boarding the Swiss squad's flight to the United States due to a US Visa issue, though he subsequently received clearance and joined the squad ahead of the tournament.Source: WION / beIN Sports
Background
Breel Embolo is a Swiss centre-forward Born on 14 February 1997 in Yaoundé, Cameroon. His family moved first to France and then settled in Switzerland, where he established himself through Basel before moves to Schalke 04, Borussia Mönchengladbach, Monaco and, from 2025, Rennes in Ligue 1. He has earned 86 caps for Switzerland and scored 24 international goals, making him one of the country's most experienced strikers. At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar he scored against Cameroon, his country of birth, and famously refused to celebrate.
Embolo converted a penalty in the 17th minute of Switzerland's opening group fixture against Qatar on 13 June 2026 at Bay Area Stadium in Santa Clara, giving the Nati the lead. Qatar equalised through Boualem Khoukhi in the 90th minute plus five to claim a point in their first-ever World Cup match, but the match was overshadowed by a VAR controversy: FIFA failed to display the semi-automated offside graphic when the penalty was checked, drawing a withering response from pundit Gary Neville.
Embolo's presence at a third World Cup underlines Switzerland's consistency as a tournament nation across the 2018, 2022 and 2026 cycles. His ability to hold up play and convert from the spot makes him Switzerland's focal point in attack, even as questions persist about the depth of their forward line beyond him.
