Xhaka and Embolo cleared to return to Switzerland squad, Xhaka keeps captaincy

The federation's decision

The Swiss Football Association (SFV) announced on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, that Granit Xhaka and Breel Embolo may return to the national team for the November matches. The federation's central board (Zentralvorstand) made the decision after reviewing both cases, and the SFV said the players' return is justifiable once their legal proceedings are concluded and the sporting consequences are taken into account. Xhaka and Embolo had missed four international matches in September and October, including the October Nations League fixtures against Scotland, Slovenia and North Macedonia. Switzerland plays in Slovenia on 13 November and hosts Scotland three days later. The squad is scheduled to assemble in St. Gallen on 9 November. National team director Pierluigi Tami stood behind the decision in the federation's statement.

“We are convinced that a return to the national team in November is responsible and right.”

The two cases

Xhaka, 34, admitted acquiring a forged vaccination certificate in 2022 so that he could travel and compete, and he was sentenced in Lucerne shortly before the North Macedonia match, according to 20 Minuten. AP reported that he was put on two years' probation and paid court costs with a suspended fine of CHF 150,000 ($180,000). Embolo, 29, an Atlanta United forward, obtained fake COVID-19 travel documents in 2021 and received a legally binding conviction to a conditional fine of 20 day-fines at CHF 3,000 each, per 20 Minuten. Blick reported that he did not inform the SFV about the penal order, while The Independent reported the same CHF 150,000 suspended fine for both players. In a statement issued in September, Xhaka said he had felt deep mistrust of the vaccine and called the forged certificate a mistake.

“It was a mistake. I am sorry.”

New guidelines for national teams

The SFV also issued five guidelines for handling criminal matters involving players and staff across all national teams, from youth selections to the senior men's and women's teams. A binding duty requires everyone affected to inform the federation about criminal investigations, penal orders, convictions and acquittals. The other four rules apply the same criteria regardless of gender, function or status, keep the presumption of innocence until a final conviction, and allow measures before a verdict where needed to protect individuals or the team. Each case is judged by the type and severity of the offence, the stage of proceedings, the link to a national-team role and the person's conduct, and particularly serious offences can lead to temporary or permanent exclusion. Measures range from none to temporary non-selection or longer exclusion, with the final decision made by the central board, and the rules apply from November 2026. SFV president Peter Knäbel said the guidelines create binding foundations for judging legally relevant situations on clear, transparent and comprehensible criteria.

Captaincy and squad reaction

The SFV confirmed that Xhaka will keep the captaincy, a decision Blick says coach Murat Yakin and the players' council took unanimously. AP reported that Yakin, his staff and the players all wanted Xhaka to continue as captain, and Xhaka has 152 caps for Switzerland. Yakin said he was glad to be able to pick his squad without restrictions for the November games.

“I am pleased once again to be able to make my selections without restrictions for the November games.”

Switzerland tops its second-tier Nations League group, five points ahead of Slovenia, and is seeking promotion back to the top tier.