Switzerland's Journey in World Cup 2026

In the lead-up to World Cup 2026, Switzerland had never reached the semi-finals of the tournament. The team, featuring captain Granit Xhaka, had entered the event amidst high expectations following a smooth qualifying process, where they topped their group ahead of Kosovo, Slovenia, and Sweden, clinching four victories and two draws.

On Tuesday, the Swiss squad embarked on their journey to the US west coast, establishing their base in San Diego. Coach Murat Yakin expressed ambitions to showcase the best World Cup performance from a Swiss team, recalling the missed opportunity in the last Euros, where they exited in the quarter-finals after a penalty shootout against England. Historically, Switzerland had last reached the World Cup quarter-finals in 1954, with more recent campaigns concluding in the Round of 16, including a heavy defeat to Portugal in 2022.

Switzerland's fixtures in Group B included matches against Qatar on 13 June in San Francisco, Bosnia and Herzegovina on 18 June in Los Angeles, and Canada on 24 June in Vancouver.

Fans were optimistic, bolstered by their successful qualification round without major injuries, although the squad's depth encompassed both seasoned players like Granit Xhaka, Manuel Akanji, and Ricardo Rodriguez, as well as younger talents like Dan Ndoye and Johan Manzambi. Burnley striker Zeki Amdouni appeared to recover fully from an anterior cruciate ligament injury, while Noah Okafor returned to form after addressing past issues with the coaching staff.

Yakin had employed a 4-2-3-1 formation but also experimented with a 3-4-3 setup, which had previously served well during the Euros. After a positive showing there, Yakin had extended his contract until 2028.

Reflecting on his success, defender Rodriguez praised Yakin's open communication and collaborative approach with the players. Despite some early challenges—including criticism after poor Euro 2024 preparations—Yakin's coaching from his time at FC Schaffhausen to national team success had indeed uplifted him.

Granit Xhaka, now 33, remained the cornerstone of the squad and continued to maintain peak performance levels. His leadership on and off the pitch significantly influenced Switzerland's gameplay, ensuring a balance in the midfield.

The star to watch included Johan Manzambi, whose strong performance at Freiburg captured the attention of top European clubs. With versatility in multiple midfield roles, he was anticipated to impact Switzerland's strategy in the tournament.

In addition, Remo Freuler, once doubted for his capabilities, evolved into an essential player, renowned for his intelligence and contributions in the midfield alongside Xhaka.

Swiss fans’ presence in tournaments had been notable, but for this World Cup, only a limited number of supporters would attend due to political and financial factors. The FA president reaffirmed that the team's focus would remain solely on the sport, despite external political tensions that had emerged between the US and Switzerland.