BERN, Switzerland — Forward Zeki Amdouni has been selected for the World Cup squad despite accumulating under an hour of playing time this season due to a serious knee injury.
Veteran midfielder Granit Xhaka will serve as the captain for the tournament taking place across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, marking his fourth successive World Cup appearance for Switzerland.
Amdouni’s recent appearance as a late substitute for Burnley against Arsenal was just his third outing off the bench this month following his recovery from an ACL tear last July.
Having netted 11 goals in 27 appearances for the national team, Amdouni secured a spot in coach Murat Yakin’s 26-man squad, which is expected to perform well in a group alongside co-host Canada, 2022 host Qatar, and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
The squad was unveiled over two days through an engaging social media initiative, encouraging fans to discover the players’ names hidden in photos showcasing everyday life in Switzerland.
Xhaka, now the captain, aims to further his national record with 144 caps at the age of 33. The former Arsenal player and current Sunderland midfielder continues to play a crucial leadership role.
Yakin made some surprising inclusions as well, with attacking players Christian Fassnacht and Cedric Itten being selected, despite playing limited minutes for the national team since 2023.
Fassnacht, the leading scorer in the national league with 18 goals this season, alongside his Young Boys teammate, goalkeeper Marvin Keller, represents the only members from Swiss clubs. Notably, the Swiss champions, Thun, are without representation.
Defender Manuel Akanji recently celebrated winning a Serie A title, while Johan Manzambi is set to compete in the Europa League final with Freiburg against Aston Villa.
Manzambi made a notable debut against co-hosts the United States last June, scoring in a 4-2 victory over Mexico and netting another goal in a decisive 4-0 win over the United States.
Complete Switzerland Squad:
Goalkeepers: Gregor Kobel (Borussia Dortmund), Yvon Mvogo (Lorient), Marvin Keller (Young Boys)
Defenders: Manuel Akanji (Inter Milan), Nico Elvedi (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Ricardo Rodriguez (Real Betis), Silvan Widmer (Mainz), Miro Muheim (Hamburger SV), Aurèle Amenda (Eintracht Frankfurt), Eray Cömert (Valencia), Luca Jaquez (Stuttgart)
Midfielders: Granit Xhaka (Sunderland), Johan Manzambi (Freiburg), Remo Freuler (Bologna), Denis Zakaria (Monaco), Ardon Jashari (AC Milan), Djibril Sow (Sevilla), Christian Fassnacht (Young Boys), Michel Aebischer (Pisa), Fabian Rieder (Augsburg), Rubén Vargas (Sevilla)
Forwards: Breel Embolo (Rennes), Noah Okafor (Leeds), Dan Ndoye (Nottingham Forest), Zeki Amdouni (Burnley), Cedric Itten (Fortuna Düsseldorf)
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.