Granit Xhaka focused ahead of fourth World Cup appearance

Most professional footballers would consider a single World Cup appearance a career-defining achievement. Granit Xhaka is about to make his fourth look routine.

The Swiss captain has been named in Switzerland’s 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. It’s a milestone that cements Xhaka’s status as the most decorated and experienced player in Swiss football history.

A career built on consistency

Xhaka’s World Cup journey started in Brazil in 2014, when he was a 21-year-old midfielder still establishing himself on the international stage. Russia 2018 followed, then Qatar 2022. Now, at 33, he’s preparing for tournament number four.

The numbers tell their own story. Xhaka holds the record for the most international appearances in Swiss football history, with 146 caps as of early June 2026. He also owns the record for the most World Cup matches played by a Swiss player, with 12 appearances across those three previous tournaments.

He’s been wearing the captain’s armband since late 2019, and Switzerland’s coaching staff and teammates have repeatedly emphasized how important Xhaka is to the team’s World Cup ambitions, both tactically and as a locker room presence.

From Leverkusen to Sunderland

After a successful spell at Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga, Xhaka moved to Sunderland in July 2025 in a deal reportedly worth £23 million. For a player who spent years at Arsenal and then reinvented himself in Germany, the move to the northeast of England was another chapter in a career defined by refusing to stay comfortable.

What this means for Switzerland at the 2026 World Cup

The 2026 tournament format, spread across three host nations in North America, will present unique logistical and physical challenges. Travel distances between venues, varying climates, and the sheer scale of the expanded tournament mean squad depth and veteran leadership will matter more than ever. Having a captain with 146 caps and 12 World Cup matches under his belt is the kind of advantage that doesn’t show up in pre-tournament power rankings but absolutely shows up on the pitch.

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