Switzerland have promising young players for 2026

Switzerland coach Murat Yakin takes stock of his team’s progress and the lessons learned in recent years, as well as looking ahead.

• Yakin spoke about the past, present and future of the Swiss national team

• He is bullish ahead of the start of qualifying for FIFA World Cup 26

• Talented youngsters tipped to “stamp their mark” on the team

Switzerland have reached the knockout stage at their last six major tournaments. Most recently at UEFA EURO 2024, Die Nati crashed out in agonising fashion with a loss to England on penalties in the quarter-finals, but they look well placed to move on from that heartache – or perhaps even to use the memories as fuel – as they seek to make an impression at the FIFA World Cup 26™. First, however, they have to get there.

Having occupied the hotseat since August 2021, Murat Yakin is gearing up for his second FIFA World Cup™ qualifying campaign in charge of the Swiss national team. The 50-year-old sat down with FIFA to talk about what he has learned from his tournament experiences at the helm so far, and the fierce competition that he expects in the race to snap up a spot at the 2026 showpiece.

We performed strongly at the tournament and had our fans – and the whole country – buzzing. We showed tactical versatility and pulled together as a team on and off the pitch. We could’ve gone even further. We were gutted after losing that penalty shoot-out to England, but in football, you’ve got to quickly put the past behind you and turn your attention to what’s next.

I think we’ve become more versatile. We’re comfortable playing in several formations and can change things up in various ways during matches. We’ve also brought in a number of young players who are going to stamp their mark on the team in the future.

 

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We’ve got pacy players who excel in 1v1 situations, supported by several outstanding figures in the middle. That means that, depending on the circumstances, we can choose to channel play down the flanks or focus on defensive solidity along the spine of the team and on attacking more centrally.

We learned from that defeat and have further professionalised our set-up from the medical and nutritional points of view. We’ve invested heavily in new technology relating to recovery. During a tournament that involves spending a number of weeks together and playing a series of games in a short period, these things can make all the difference.

Experience can be decisive on the big stage. That said, it’s just as important to keep developing your team in between tournaments and to freshen things up by integrating youngsters. Change is a constant for national teams. For me, form is crucial. Anyone who’s performing at the highest level for their club deserves a shot at playing their part within a well-oiled national team.

 

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There are some really promising young Swiss players, including some who are plying their trade abroad. They’ve got time enough until the summer of 2026 to keep progressing and force their way into the equation. I won’t name any names because I don’t want to put anyone under undue pressure.

Standards have soared in the last five years. The so-called minnows have caught up. The impact of modern training methods and medical and technological advances is plain to see across the board, and that includes among the smaller nations. The playing field is much more level now, which means that more teams are capable of qualifying than even as recently as ten years ago.

We’re taking things step by step. The first step is to qualify. You can ask me about my goal for the World Cup again if and when we’ve sealed our place at the competition.