Switzerland head to the 2026 World Cup in North America with their sights set on surpassing their previous best performance. The team, which has qualified for a sixth consecutive tournament, will be based in San Diego and aim to reach the semi-finals for the first time since 1954. Coach Murat Yakin told Blick: “We want to play the best World Cup seen from a Swiss team. The feeling that we could have reached the final of the last Euros gives us something to dream about.”
Switzerland have never progressed beyond the quarter-finals at a World Cup, a stage they last reached on home soil in 1954. In the 2022 edition they were eliminated in the last 16 after a 6-1 defeat to Portugal. However, a smooth qualifying campaign – topping a group containing Kosovo, Slovenia and Sweden with four wins and two draws – has boosted confidence.
The squad blends experienced players such as Granit Xhaka, Manuel Akanji and Ricardo Rodriguez with emerging talents like Dan Ndoye, Fabian Rieder and Johan Manzambi. Burnley striker Zeki Amdouni has recovered from an anterior cruciate ligament injury, while Noah Okafor has returned after a public disagreement with Yakin. “He could be a key player at the World Cup,” Yakin said of Okafor. The coach has favoured a 4-2-3-1 system but has experimented with 3-4-3, the formation used at Euro 2024.
Captain Granit Xhaka, 33, remains the team’s most important player. The midfielder, who has enjoyed outstanding seasons with Bayer Leverkusen and Sunderland, dictates play and provides balance. Yakin described Johan Manzambi, 20, as a potential “secret weapon” due to his versatility across midfield and attack. Manzambi’s impressive performances for Freiburg have attracted interest from top European clubs.
Yakin’s appointment in 2021 was a surprise given he was then coaching in the second tier, but his stock has risen after extending his contract to 2028. Defender Ricardo Rodriguez praised Yakin’s openness: “He talks to us a lot, asks for our opinions and listens. He’s brilliant at that.” Switzerland will open their campaign in Group H against Slovakia, Senegal and New Zealand.
