Murat Yakin was appointed Switzerland’s coach on August 9, 2021, replacing Vladimir Petkovic. | Photo Credit: AFP

Switzerland will begin its FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign against Qatar in a Group B match at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium in Santa Clara on Saturday.

The Swiss team will be led by Murat Yakin, who has been in charge of the national side since 2021 and has helped maintain its consistency at major tournaments.

Murat Yakin’s record as coach:

• Matches: 507
• Wins: 224
• Draws: 142
• Losses: 141
• Win percentage: 44.2

Murat Yakin’s record as Switzerland coach:

• Matches: 59
• Wins: 25
• Draws: 20
• Losses: 14
• Win percentage: 42.4
• Goals scored: 105
• Goals conceded: 72

What has Murat Yakin said before Qatar vs Switzerland?

Ahead of the match against Qatar, Murat Yakin said Switzerland has learned from its past World Cup experiences and is better prepared this time.

“Two thirds of the players of my team have already played in a big tournament,” Yakin said. “We learned our lessons from the past. Now, four years later, we have more experience. We do things better.”

Yakin also said his side has the quality to perform well at the tournament and wants to take the game to Qatar early.

How did Switzerland qualify for FIFA World Cup 2026 under Yakin?

Switzerland qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2026 through the European qualifiers, continuing its consistent presence at the tournament.

The 2026 edition will be Switzerland’s sixth successive World Cup appearance, a run matched in Europe only by France, Spain, England, Portugal and Germany.

(With inputs from Agencies)

Published on Jun 13, 2026