Current FIFA Ranking: 17
Highest FIFA Ranking: 3 (Aug 1993)
Lowest FIFA Ranking: 83 (December 1998)
Football Team Nickname: Rossocrociati (Red Crosses)
Honours: None
Head coach: Murat Yakin (since August 2021)
Top scorer in qualifying: Breel Embolo (4)
Star players: Granit Xhaka (Sunderland), Breel Embolo (Rennes), Manuel Akanji (Inter)
The 2022 World Cup ended in yet another Round of 16 exit for Switzerland, and an embarrassing one too, a 6-1 defeat to Portugal in Lusail. The Red Crosses have fallen at that stage in each of the last three finals and five of the last six. They have not reached the quarter-finals since they were hosts in 1954.
Murat Yakin, who was capped 49 times (brother Hakan was one of Switzerland’s best players scoring 20 goals in 87 caps), remains in charge but his contract is due to expire on completion of the 2026 World Cup.
Head-to-head v Canada:
Played: 1 Canada wins: 1 Switzerland wins: 0 Draws: 0
Date Competition Venue Result Canada goals
May 2002 Friendly St. Gallen W3-1 Tomasz Radzinski (2), Paul Stalteri
Previous World Cup appearances (12):
2022: Round of 16 (1-6 v Portugal)
2018: Round of 16
2014: Round of 16
2010: Group stage
2006: Round of 16
1994: Round of 16
1966: Group stage
1962: Group stage
1954: Quarter-final
1950: Group stage
1938: Quarter-final
1934: Quarter-final
