Noah Okafor Makes Switzerland's 26-Man World Cup Squad

Noah Okafor is in Switzerland's 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup, giving Leeds United another player on the international stage this summer. Murat Yakin's selection also includes four Premier League players and 17 men from the group that featured at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Yakin Keeps Familiar Core

Yakin said on Wednesday that he had selected the best players for the squad and could not wait to get going. His group includes Granit Xhaka, Switzerland's most capped player with 144 appearances, and Ricardo Rodriguez, who will compete at his fourth World Cup in a row.

Xhaka will take part in his fourth successive Fifa World Cup. Switzerland also named Dan Ndoye of Nottingham Forest and Burnley attacker Zeki Amdouni, with Yakin adding: "Medically, he is 100% fit. He knows our system. He knows his role. That's the reason why I'm very glad he can be part of it".

Switzerland Begin Monday

The squad now turns toward a short build-up before the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Switzerland begin preparations on Monday, then play Jordan in St Gallen on 31 May and Australia in San Diego on 6 June.

The opening Group B match comes against Qatar in Santa Clara on 13 June. Bosnia-Herzegovina and Canada are the other teams in the group, giving Okafor a path into a squad that already carries major tournament experience and a forward line built around players from England's top flight.

Christian Fassnacht led the Swiss Super League with 18 goals, while Cedric Itten was selected despite relegation to the German third tier with Fortuna Dusseldorf. For Okafor, the immediate change is simple: he is in the squad, and Switzerland's next three dates now shape the final stretch before the opening whistle.