Switzerland name 25-man squad for September-October Nations League; Breel Embolo included
Switzerland named its 25-man squad for the September-October UEFA Nations League window on September 17, 2026, selecting players for fixtures against Scotland, Slovenia and North Macedonia, including Breel Embolo and new faces Winsley Boteli and Sascha Britschgi.
Switzerland, which reached the World Cup quarterfinals, handed a first international call-up to 20-year-old Sion striker Winsley Boteli and included 20-year-old Parma defender Sascha Britschgi in the Nations League group. Manager Murat Yakin named a 25-man roster to face Scotland, Slovenia and North Macedonia in the competition’s second tier.
Granit Xhaka is part of the squad and brings his 152nd cap to the group; the Sunderland midfielder is noted to turn 34 on September 26, a date the announcement describes as the day of Switzerland’s Nations League second-tier group opener against North Macedonia. The squad also contains several established internationals alongside younger additions.
Breel Embolo was selected after his transfer to Major League Soccer’s Atlanta United and following the red card he received in the World Cup quarterfinals against Argentina, which the announcement described as a mistaken sending-off. Embolo is listed among the forwards with fellow attackers Zeki Amdouni, Cedri Itten, Dan Ndoye and others.
A third uncapped player, 21-year-old centre-back Zachary Athekame, returned to the squad while on loan from AC Milan to Lyon; the roster also includes World Cup breakout Johan Manzambi, Denis Zakaria and Zeki Amdouni among midfield and forward options. The selection mixes newcomers and experienced performers for the upcoming international window.
Switzerland will face Scotland on September 29, followed by back-to-back home games against Slovenia and North Macedonia in Lucerne; the North Macedonia fixture is scheduled for October 6, 2026, at the Swissporarena in Luzern. The announcement states Switzerland are in Group E of the Nations League.
Nati have won four of their previous five matches, with one loss and no draws in that span. The full squad named: Goalkeepers: Marvin Keller, Gregor Kobel, Yvon Mvogo. Defenders: Manuel Akanji, Aurele Amenda, Zachary Athenkame, Adrian Bajrami, Sascha Britschgi, Eray Comert, Nico Elvedi, Ricardo Rodriguez. Midfielders: Denis Zakaria, Granit Xhaka, Remo Freuler, Johan Manzambi, Ardon Jashari, Djibril Sow, Fabian Rieder, Michel Aebischer. Forwards: Zeki Amdouni, Winsley Boteli, Breel Embolo, Cedri Itten, Dan Ndoye.
Switzerland’s immediate fixtures in Group E begin with Scotland on September 29, followed by home matches against Slovenia and North Macedonia, the latter set for October 6 at the Swissporarena in Luzern; the announcement and squad list were published on September 17, 2026.