Switzerland World Cup 2026 Hub: Fixtures, Predicted Line-Ups, Odds

Group B favourites under Murat Yakin. Squad, fixtures, predicted XI, Oddschecker markets, tactics and form.

Switzerland arrive as the highest ranked side in Group B and the bookmakers’ favourites to win it. Captained by Granit Xhaka at his fourth World Cup and coached by Murat Yakin, the Swiss are organised, experienced and used to deep tournament runs, having reached the last 16 in four of the past five World Cups.

 

 

Who are Switzerland and who is in the squad?

Murat Yakin has assembled a balanced, experienced squad, with 18 of his picks having played at a World Cup before. Granit Xhaka, now at Sunderland, captains the side and is the national record appearance maker, while Manuel Akanji brings Champions League quality to the defence and Breel Embolo carries the goalscoring burden up front.

Yakin has set the bar high, saying he wants his side to play the best World Cup ever seen from a Swiss team, with the Euro 2024 quarter-final exit to England giving the group something to build on. Younger names such as Johan Manzambi, Ardon Jashari and Dan Ndoye add legs to a veteran core.

Switzerland’s confirmed 26-man squad

Goalkeepers

• Gregor Kobel, Marvin Keller, Yvon Mvogo

Defenders

• Manuel Akanji, Ricardo Rodriguez, Nico Elvedi, Silvan Widmer, Aurele Amenda, Eray Comert, Luca Jaquez, Miro Muheim

Midfielders

• Granit Xhaka (captain), Remo Freuler, Denis Zakaria, Djibril Sow, Michel Aebischer, Ardon Jashari, Fabian Rieder, Ruben Vargas, Johan Manzambi, Christian Fassnacht

Forwards

• Breel Embolo, Dan Ndoye, Noah Okafor, Zeki Amdouni, Cedric Itten

What is Switzerland’s group and fixture schedule?

Switzerland are in Group B with co-hosts Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Qatar. The top two from each group, plus the eight best third placed teams, reach the Round of 32.

They open against Qatar on 13 June, face Bosnia and Herzegovina on 18 June and finish against hosts Canada in Vancouver. As clear group favourites, topping Group B to earn a kinder knockout route is the realistic aim.

Date (UK)	Fixture	Venue
Fri 12 June, 8pm	Canada v Bosnia and Herzegovina	BMO Field, Toronto
Sat 13 June, 8pm	Qatar v Switzerland	Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara
Thu 18 June, 8pm	Switzerland v Bosnia and Herzegovina	SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
Thu 18 June, 11pm	Canada v Qatar	BC Place, Vancouver
Wed 24 June, 8pm	Switzerland v Canada	BC Place, Vancouver
Wed 24 June, 8pm	Bosnia and Herzegovina v Qatar	Lumen Field, Seattle

 

What is Switzerland’s predicted line up?

Yakin switches between a 4-3-3 and a 4-2-3-1, with the former expected. Gregor Kobel is the first choice goalkeeper, Akanji anchors the defence, Xhaka dictates from deep, and Embolo leads the line with Ndoye and Vargas providing width and threat from the flanks.

Predicted XI (4-3-3):

Kobel; Widmer, Elvedi, Akanji, Rodriguez; Freuler, Xhaka, Sow; Ndoye, Embolo, Vargas

This is a prediction, not a confirmed team sheet. Yakin has alternatives in midfield through Aebischer and Zakaria, and can shift to a 4-2-3-1 depending on the opponent.

 

Switzerland One to Watch – Johan Manzambi

Johan Manzambi. The Geneva-born midfielder’s impressive season at Freiburg has not gone unnoticed with Europe’s top clubs monitoring the all-rounder. Hardly a week goes by without a new rumour surfacing about where Switzerland’s biggest talent will play next. He could become the most expensive Swiss transfer after the World Cup, beating the €45m Arsenal paid Borussia Mönchengladbach for Xhaka in 2016. His versatility helps as he is able to play as a No 6, No 8, No 10 or even up front. For the national team he is not yet a regular starter, but is often brought on in a wide position. Yakin has said Manzambi can be a “secret weapon” in North America, adding: “His development is really impressive. When he was first called up to the national team last summer we realised straight away the incredible potential he has.”

 

Switzerland Tournament Odds

The headline Oddschecker markets for Switzerland are below. Match by match anytime goalscorer and clean sheet prices are listed on the individual Oddschecker fixture pages and move right up to kick off, so pull the live prices from there at upload.

Oddschecker market	Selection	Price
To win Group B	Switzerland	4/6
To win the tournament	Switzerland	150/1
Top team goalscorer	Breel Embolo	9/4
Stage of elimination	Quarter-finals	12/5
Exact Group B points	9 points	3/1

 

Breel Embolo is the scorer focus, having top scored for Switzerland in qualifying with four goals, and is favourite in their top team goalscorer market. For individual matches, his anytime goalscorer price and Switzerland’s clean sheet prices are on the Oddschecker fixture pages.

As group favourites with an organised, set-piece-savvy defence anchored by Akanji and Kobel, Switzerland are short to keep clean sheets against Qatar in particular, so confirm the match by match prices on Oddschecker before publishing.

18+ only. Odds sourced from Oddschecker and correct at the time of writing (9 June 2026); prices move constantly, so confirm the live price on Oddschecker before publishing or betting. Please gamble responsibly. BeGambleAware.org.

How will Switzerland play? Style and tactics

Switzerland are not a flashy team, but they are organised, hard to beat and efficient in transition. The likely 4-3-3 uses Xhaka to control tempo and screen the back four, with Akanji stepping out from defence and the front three carrying the threat.

Set-piece defending and game management are core strengths, and Embolo’s hold-up play allows Ndoye and Vargas to attack from wide. Their ceiling is the quarter-finals, the stage they reached at Euro 2024 under Yakin.

What is Switzerland’s recent form?

Switzerland were comfortable in qualifying, finishing top of their UEFA group ahead of Kosovo, Slovenia and Sweden, winning four and drawing two of their six matches. Embolo scored four times across that campaign.

The bigger reference point is Euro 2024, where they beat Italy in the last 16 before losing on penalties to England in the quarter-finals, a run that has shaped expectations for this tournament.

Switzerland World Cup 2026: frequently asked questions

Who is the Switzerland captain?

Granit Xhaka, the Sunderland midfielder, who captains the side at his fourth World Cup and is the national record appearance maker.

Who is the Switzerland manager?

Murat Yakin, who led the country to the Euro 2024 quarter-finals.

When is Switzerland’s first match?

Saturday 13 June 2026 against Qatar at Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, 8pm UK time.

Who is Switzerland’s main goal threat?

Breel Embolo of Rennes, the squad’s leading scorer with 24 international goals and top scorer in qualifying.

What is Switzerland’s best World Cup finish?

Quarter-finals, in 1934, 1938 and 1954. They have reached the last 16 in four of the past five tournaments.

 

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