SWITZERLAND

Switzerland is a 13-time World Cup participant with a best result of the quarterfinals (three times: 1934, 1938, 1954). At the 2026 World Cup, Switzerland plays in Group B against Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Qatar. Head coach Murat Yakin has been in charge since August 2021; under his leadership, Switzerland qualified for two consecutive World Cups (2022, 2026) and reached the Euro 2024 quarterfinal. The leaders: Granit Xhaka (captain), Manuel Akanji, Breel Embolo.

At Euro 2024 Switzerland delivered the tournament's biggest upset in the round of 16: 2:0 over defending champions Italy in Berlin. The match will go into the textbooks — the Swiss pressed, broke open the space, and scored twice before the 47th minute. In the quarterfinal against England, the team played evenly but lost on penalties after 1:1. It was Switzerland's best Euro finish ever. Yakin, himself an ethnic Turk through his father, built the team on discipline and the individual talent of Swiss players based at top European clubs.

Qualifying ended in first place in the UEFA group with six wins. Yakin's contract has been extended through the end of the 2026 World Cup. In Group B the main rivals are Canada at home and Bosnia (a Balkan derby). Matches are in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Vancouver. Beyond the group, a possible round of 16 against Germany or Spain — a real chance at the quarterfinals for the first time in 72 years.

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