Xhaka to set Swiss World Cup record in opener, Yakin stays relaxed before Qatar clash
Granit Xhaka will become Switzerland’s most-capped World Cup player when his team faces Qatar in their 2026 tournament debut. Coach Murat Yakin kept formation plans hidden but radiated calm at a lively press conference.
Xhaka’s milestone in focus
Granit Xhaka will become Switzerland’s all-time leader in World Cup appearances when he takes the field against Qatar on Saturday at Levi’s Stadium. The 33-year-old midfielder is set to earn his 13th cap at the tournament, a mark that could also be matched by his long-time teammate Ricardo Rodriguez if the left-back plays. "This number makes me extremely proud," Xhaka said.
We have no big names, no star. Our team has to function as a unit.
The captain used the press conference to revisit his pointed remarks after last week’s 1-1 friendly draw against Australia. He insisted he was not angry but dissatisfied with the collective performance. "I was not satisfied, neither with myself nor with the result. And then I speak about such things," Xhaka explained. He added, smiling, "You don’t want to see when I’m really angry."
Yakin stays relaxed and tight-lipped
Coach Murat Yakin appeared in buoyant spirits, drawing laughter from journalists when he joked that Xhaka was already being treated as the future coach. Asked about a list of off-field incidents, including Breel Embolo’s visa issue and a double-eagle gesture during a baseball outing, Yakin playfully added "You forgot the snake alarm" to the tally. "The media needs something to report on. We are in show business. And we are doing our best in that regard, too," he said.
Despite the levity, Yakin gave nothing away about his starting formation or tactics, saying he would inform the team on the morning of the match after assessing the final training session. He stressed the importance of a strong start and said his experienced players could adjust during the game.
Conditions in Santa Clara
The match, kicking off at 12:00 local time (21:00 CEST), is expected to be played in temperatures above 30°C. Qatar are seen as one of the weakest teams in the group, but Yakin insisted there would be no experiments. The stadium, originally built for the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers, was renamed San Francisco Bay Area Stadium for the World Cup.
