World Cup 2026

Switzerland

Switzerland: Battle-Hardened, Underestimated, and Ready to Haunt Group B

Alive in the Round of 16FIFA #19Group B — Canada · Bosnia & Herzegovina · QatarNext match — Tue, Jul 7 vs Colombia

FutAve take

The Story

Ranked 19th in the world and fuelled by the sting of a Euro 2024 quarter-final exit, Switzerland arrive at the 2026 World Cup as the quietly dangerous side nobody wants to draw. Murat Yakin's side blend European club pedigree with collective discipline — a combination that makes them genuinely dangerous in a Group B they are built to top.

How they qualified

Switzerland navigated their UEFA qualifying group with composed authority, finishing top without a single defeat. The campaign was defined by defensive solidity and clinical finishing — conceding barely anything while racking up comfortable wins. It was the kind of qualifying run that doesn't always make headlines but tells you everything about a team's mental stability heading into a tournament.

Why watch

Switzerland aren't flashy, but they are ruthlessly efficient and tactically fascinating under Yakin's hybrid 4-2-3-1 system. With Bundesliga steel, Serie A craft, and Premier League grit scattered across the XI, every position has a story. Watch them dismantle opponents who underestimate their structure — and watch them tested when Canada's press arrives in their biggest Group B fixture.

Squad spotlight

Players to Know

The Veteran

Granit Xhaka

Sunderland

Granit Xhaka is Switzerland's heartbeat — the record cap holder whose read of the game defines how this team breathes in and out of possession.

Why they matter

Xhaka isn't just a player, he's an institution. As Switzerland's most-capped figure, his ability to control tempo and shield the backline is the structural foundation Yakin's entire system is built around. Without him functioning, Switzerland look like a different team entirely.

Watch for

Watch how Xhaka dictates the press-resistant passing lanes in the deep block, and how he transitions Switzerland from defence to attack with minimal waste — especially against Canada's high-intensity press, where his composure will be tested most severely.

The Star

Manuel Akanji

Inter

Manuel Akanji brings Inter-level defensive authority to Switzerland's backline, combining elite reading of the game with the composure to step out and carry.

Why they matter

In a group where Switzerland must defend their status as heavy favourites against Qatar and Bosnia, Akanji is the player who makes clean sheets look inevitable. His ability to organise those around him elevates a back four that could otherwise be exposed by direct, physical opponents.

Watch for

Track how Akanji steps aggressively into midfield to intercept or carry — his willingness to break the defensive line intelligently is a key pressure-release valve for Switzerland when opponents sit deep and force them to build.

The X-Factor

Breel Embolo

Rennes

Breel Embolo is the forward with the physical presence and instinct to punish any defensive lapse — a proven scorer at the highest level for club and country.

Why they matter

Switzerland need a focal point who can hold the line, bring others into play, and still threaten behind defenders with directness. Embolo provides all three. Against a Qatar side ranked 33 places below Switzerland, he could be the difference between a comfortable opener and a tense one.

Watch for

Watch Embolo's movement between the channels — he is at his most dangerous when drifting wide before cutting inside, and his physicality in aerial duels makes him a constant set-piece threat Switzerland deliberately exploit.

The Breakout Candidate

Ardon Jashari

AC Milan

Ardon Jashari has made the leap from Swiss prospect to AC Milan midfielder — a statement of intent that arrives at the perfect time for a World Cup stage.

Why they matter

As the most exciting young presence in central midfield, Jashari represents Switzerland's next era pressing against the current one. His energy alongside Xhaka creates a fascinating generational dynamic in the double pivot, and his ceiling at this tournament could be enormous.

Watch for

Watch how Jashari presses in the first line of defence and how quickly he transitions from winning the ball to threading it forward — his ability to shift the tempo instantly is what separates him from a conventional holding midfielder.

The FutAve Watch

Dan Ndoye

Nottingham Forest

Dan Ndoye has taken his electric wing play from Bologna to Nottingham Forest and now to the World Cup — a player who makes something happen every time he gets space.

Why they matter

In a Swiss system that can sometimes prioritise structure over flair, Ndoye is the unpredictable element opposition defences genuinely fear. His pace and directness on the right flank gives Switzerland a vertical threat that unlocks even the most organised low blocks.

Watch for

When Switzerland win possession high, look immediately for Ndoye's diagonal runs in behind the full-back — he thrives in transition and can turn a defensive moment into a goalscoring chance within two touches. The Canada game is where he could define his World Cup.

FutAve layer