Murat Yakin named Switzerland’s 26-man World Cup squad on May 20, 2026, with Granit Xhaka set to captain the side at his fourth World Cup. Yakin went for experience. Eighteen of his picks have played at a World Cup before. The youngest face tells the other story. Freiburg’s Johan Manzambi, just 20, earns a place off the back of a Europa League final run.
The Switzerland World Cup Squad 2026 leans hard on European top-flight talent. Manuel Akanji anchors the defence from Inter Milan, while four Premier League players and eight Bundesliga names fill out the group. Switzerland sit 19th in the world as of the April 2026 FIFA ranking, and they reach a 13th World Cup as one of Group B’s favourites alongside host Canada.
This is your full Switzerland squad list, schedule, and key player breakdown for the 2026 tournament.
Switzerland 26-Player Squad for World Cup 2026
| Position | Player | Club | Age | Caps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Gregor Kobel | Borussia Dortmund (Germany) | 28 | 20 | 0 |
| GK | Yvon Mvogo | Lorient (France) | 32 | 13 | 0 |
| GK | Marvin Keller | Young Boys | 23 | 1 | 0 |
| DF | Miro Muheim | Hamburger SV (Germany) | 28 | 9 | 0 |
| DF | Silvan Widmer | Mainz 05 (Germany) | 33 | 59 | 5 |
| DF | Nico Elvedi | Borussia Mönchengladbach (Germany) | 29 | 66 | 3 |
| DF | Manuel Akanji | Inter Milan (Italy) | 30 | 80 | 4 |
| DF | Ricardo Rodriguez | Real Betis (Spain) | 33 | 137 | 9 |
| DF | Eray Cömert | Valencia (Spain) | 28 | 21 | 0 |
| DF | Aurèle Amenda | Eintracht Frankfurt (Germany) | 22 | 6 | 0 |
| DF | Luca Jaquez | Stuttgart (Germany) | 23 | 3 | 0 |
| MF | Granit Xhaka (C) | Sunderland (England) | 33 | 145 | 17 |
| MF | Remo Freuler | Bologna (Italy) | 34 | 87 | 11 |
| MF | Denis Zakaria | Monaco (France) | 29 | 64 | 3 |
| MF | Djibril Sow | Sevilla (Spain) | 29 | 51 | 0 |
| MF | Michel Aebischer | Pisa (Italy) | 29 | 39 | 2 |
| MF | Fabian Rieder | Augsburg (Germany) | 24 | 27 | 1 |
| MF | Ardon Jashari | AC Milan (Italy) | 23 | 7 | 0 |
| MF | Johan Manzambi | SC Freiburg (Germany) | 20 | 11 | 3 |
| FW | Breel Embolo | Rennes (France) | 29 | 86 | 24 |
| FW | Dan Ndoye | Nottingham Forest (England) | 25 | 30 | 7 |
| FW | Rubén Vargas | Sevilla (Spain) | 27 | 61 | 11 |
| FW | Noah Okafor | Leeds United (England) | 26 | 24 | 2 |
| FW | Zeki Amdouni | Burnley (England) | 25 | 28 | 11 |
| FW | Christian Fassnacht | Young Boys | 32 | 22 | 5 |
| FW | Cedric Itten | Fortuna Düsseldorf (Germany) | 29 | 14 | 5 |
(C) = captain. Ages are as of June 11, 2026. Caps and goals are pre-tournament figures as of May 20, 2026.
For all 48 team final selections, see our World Cup 2026 squads tracker.
Quick Stats
Here’s a breakdown of the key numbers behind Yakin’s Switzerland World Cup Squad 2026.
- Average age: 27.8 years
- Most-capped player: Granit Xhaka (145 caps)
- Top scorer in the squad: Breel Embolo (24 international goals)
- Premier League players: 4 (Xhaka, Ndoye, Okafor, Amdouni)
- Bundesliga players: 8 (Kobel, Muheim, Widmer, Elvedi, Rieder, Amenda, Jaquez, Manzambi)
- Youngest player: Johan Manzambi (20)
- Oldest player: Remo Freuler (34)
Key Players to Watch
Granit Xhaka (C) | Sunderland
Xhaka is Switzerland’s record appearance-maker and the heartbeat of this team. His 145 caps lead the squad, and 2026 marks his fourth World Cup. He sets the tempo from deep, screens the back line, and dictates how Switzerland move through midfield. His revival at Sunderland kept him among Europe’s best controllers. Everything Yakin builds runs through him.
Manuel Akanji | Inter Milan
Akanji is the defensive anchor. The centre-back reads danger early and steps out with the ball as cleanly as any defender in the squad. His pace lets Switzerland defend high without fear. Time at Manchester City sharpened his game before the move to Inter Milan. At 30, he’s in his prime and central to Yakin’s plans.
Breel Embolo | Rennes
Embolo leads the squad with 24 international goals and was Switzerland’s top scorer in qualifying with four. The striker combines power with smart movement across the front line. He holds the ball up, brings others in, and stretches defences with his runs. Yakin needs his finishing if Switzerland are to break down a packed box.
Dan Ndoye | Nottingham Forest
Ndoye gives Switzerland their cutting edge out wide. The 25-year-old winger is direct, quick, and willing to run at full-backs all night. His Premier League form with Nottingham Forest earned him a starting role. He’s the player most likely to turn a tight game with one burst in behind.
Johan Manzambi | SC Freiburg
Manzambi is the breakout name in the squad at just 20. The midfielder broke through at Freiburg and reached a Europa League final this season. He brings energy, drive, and goals from deep, with three already in 11 caps. He’s the bridge to Switzerland’s next generation, and his minutes will only grow.
Switzerland World Cup 2026 Schedule
Switzerland play all three group matches in the western United States and Canada. Kick-off times are listed in Eastern Time (ET) and Central European Summer Time (CEST) for fans watching at home.
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Kickoff (ET) | Kickoff (CEST) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 13, 2026 | vs Qatar | San Francisco Bay Area Stadium (Levi’s Stadium), Santa Clara | 3:00 PM | 9:00 PM |
| Jun 18, 2026 | vs Bosnia and Herzegovina | Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi Stadium), Inglewood | 3:00 PM | 9:00 PM |
| Jun 24, 2026 | vs Canada | Vancouver Stadium (BC Place), Vancouver | 3:00 PM | 9:00 PM |
Switzerland warmed up with a 4-1 win over Jordan in St. Gallen on May 31. All three group games kick off in the Pacific time zone, so Swiss fans face late evening starts. See the full 2026 World Cup schedule for every knockout-stage fixture and time.
How Switzerland Qualified for World Cup 2026
Switzerland won UEFA qualifying Group B ahead of Kosovo, Slovenia, and Sweden. Only the group winner earned a direct ticket, so every match carried weight. Yakin’s side delivered, taking 14 points from six games with four wins and two draws. They scored 14 goals and conceded just two.
The run started with home wins over Kosovo (4-0) and Slovenia (3-0), then a 2-0 victory away to Sweden in Solna. A 0-0 draw in Slovenia was the only stumble before Switzerland thrashed Sweden 4-1 in Geneva. Breel Embolo finished as the team’s top scorer in UEFA qualifying with four goals.
Qualification was sealed on November 18, 2025, at Kosovo. Rubén Vargas put Switzerland ahead after the break before Kosovo equalised late for a 1-1 draw. The point was enough. A three-point lead and a far superior goal difference confirmed top spot and a 13th World Cup appearance.
Head Coach: Murat Yakin
Murat Yakin is 51 years old and has led Switzerland since August 2021. The Swiss-born coach was a defender in his playing days, capped 49 times for his country and a five-time Swiss champion as a player, with titles at Grasshoppers and his hometown club Basel. He took over from Vladimir Petković and quickly steadied the national team.
His tournament record is the reason this squad believes. Yakin guided Switzerland to the Round of 16 at Qatar 2022, then to the Euro 2024 quarterfinals, where they brushed aside holders Italy before losing to England on penalties. He favours a compact 4-2-3-1, defends in a disciplined block, and trusts his experienced spine to control games. He shifts to a back three when a match demands it.
Group B at a Glance
Switzerland are in Group B. Here’s where each team stands going into the tournament.
| Team | FIFA Ranking | WC Appearances (pre-2026) | Best Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Switzerland | 19th | 12 (1934-2022) | Quarterfinals (1934, 1938, 1954) |
| Canada | 30th | 2 (1986, 2022) | Group stage |
| Qatar | 51st | 1 (2022) | Group stage |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 71st | 1 (2014) | Group stage |
Switzerland are the highest ranked side in the group and the clear favourites to top it. Host Canada are the main threat. Jesse Marsch’s team have home crowds in Vancouver and real pace in attack. Qatar bring tournament experience from 2022, while Bosnia and Herzegovina return to the World Cup after a 12 year absence. The Swiss should advance, but they can’t take any of these three lightly. For the full breakdown, check the 2026 World Cup groups hub.
FAQ About Switzerland World Cup Squad 2026
What is Switzerland’s nickname?
Switzerland’s national football team is known as La Nati, short for the German Nationalmannschaft. Italian-speaking fans call them the Rossocrociati, meaning the red-crossed, a nod to the white cross on the country’s red flag. Both names have followed the team for decades.
What kit does Switzerland wear at the 2026 World Cup?
Switzerland wear a red home shirt carrying the white Swiss cross, paired with white shorts. The red and white look mirrors the national flag and has been the team’s identity for generations. The change kit is a lighter, mostly white design.
Has Switzerland ever beaten Canada before?
No, Switzerland have never beaten Canada. The two sides have met just once, a 2002 friendly that Canada won 3-1. The June 24 group finale in Vancouver is their first competitive meeting and only their second encounter overall.
Where can fans in the US watch Switzerland’s World Cup matches?
FOX and FS1 hold the English-language rights to the 2026 World Cup in the United States, with Telemundo carrying Spanish-language coverage. All three of Switzerland’s group games are also expected to stream through the networks’ apps for subscribers.
Is Xherdan Shaqiri in Switzerland’s 2026 World Cup squad?
No, Xherdan Shaqiri is not in the squad. The long-time talisman retired from international football after Euro 2024, ending a career of four major tournaments. His absence hands more creative responsibility to Granit Xhaka and the younger attackers.
Switzerland’s World Cup 2026 Hopes
The Switzerland World Cup Squad 2026 is built on experience and balance. Xhaka, Akanji, Rodriguez, and Embolo give Yakin a proven spine, and the group’s depth in Europe’s top leagues is real. Younger names like Manzambi, Jashari, and Ndoye add legs and ambition. This isn’t a flashy team, but it’s organised, hard to beat, and used to deep tournament runs.
Switzerland are expected to reach the knockout rounds, and topping Group B would set up a kinder path. Their realistic ceiling is the quarterfinals, a stage they reached at Euro 2024 under Yakin. To go further, they’ll need Embolo sharp in front of goal and their veterans fit. On their day, this side can trouble anyone left in the draw.
