Switzerland at the World Cup 2026: Squad, fixtures, group and history

Switzerland reached the FIFA World Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 1954. Murat Yakin's side, led by captain Granit Xhaka, finished top of Group B and defeated Algeria and Colombia in the knockout phase before losing to Argentina in the last eight.

Below you will find everything you need to know about Switzerland at the 2026 World Cup: their fixtures, squad, qualifying record, key players, coach and tournament history.

Switzerland at the World Cup 2026: At a glance

Coach: Murat Yakin
Captain: Granit Xhaka
World Cup appearances: 13
Best finish: Quarter-finals (1934, 1938, 1954, 2026)

Switzerland's World Cup matches

Group B: Winners

13 June: Qatar 1-1 Switzerland (San Francisco Bay Area)
18 June: Switzerland 4-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina (Los Angeles)
24 June: Switzerland 2-1 Canada (Vancouver)

Knockout stage

3 July – round of 32: Switzerland 2-0 Algeria (Vancouver)
7 July – round of 16: Switzerland 0-0 Colombia (Switzerland win 4-3 on pens, Vancouver)
12 July – quarter-finals: Argentina 3-1 Switzerland, aet (Kansas)

Switzerland's World Cup squad

Granit Xhaka took part in his fourth successive World Cup after being named among Murat Yakin's squad, likewise Ricardo Rodriguez, while five players played in their third World Cup. At the other end of the spectrum, Johan Manzambi made his debut following a superb UEFA Europa League season with Freiburg.

How Switzerland qualified for the World Cup

First place in Group B: W4 D2 L0 F14 A2

Switzerland 4-0 Kosovo
Switzerland 3-0 Slovenia
Sweden 0-2 Switzerland
Slovenia 0-0 Switzerland
Switzerland 4-1 Sweden
Kosovo 1-1 Switzerland

Top scorer: Breel Embolo (4)

Switzerland coach: Murat Yakin

After earning 49 caps for Switzerland as a domineering centre-back, Yakin has gone on to have a colourful coaching career, taking charge of a number of Swiss clubs including Basel and Grasshoppers, as well as a brief spell at Spartak Moskva. He took the national team job in August 2021 and guided Switzerland to a round of 16 finish at the 2022 World Cup and the UEFA EURO 2024 quarter-finals before their latest World Cup run.

Switzerland captain: Granit Xhaka

Switzerland's most-capped player, Sunderland midfielder Xhaka has (along with Ricardo Rodriguez) made more appearances than any other Swiss player at a World Cup. The 33-year-old has garnered vast experience over a highly accomplished career and remains a key cog in Yakin's team.

Switzerland's World Cup history 

Most appearances: Ricardo Rodriguez, Granit Xhaka (18)
Top scorer: Josef Hügi (6)
Best performance: Quarter-finals (1934, 1938, 1954, 2026)
World Cup 2022: Round of 16

Switzerland exited in the round of 16 in four of the last five World Cups prior to this one, most recently being defeated 6-1 by Portugal in 2022. The last time they had progressed to the last eight was in a tournament they hosted back in 1954. This was their 13th appearance.

Switzerland's UEFA Nations League fixtures: Group B1

26 September: North Macedonia vs Switzerland (20:45)
29 September: Scotland vs Switzerland (20:45)
3 October: Switzerland vs Slovenia (20:45)
6 October: Switzerland vs North Macedonia (20:45)
13 November: Slovenia vs Switzerland (20:45)
16 November: Switzerland vs Scotland (20:45)

All times CET.