Manuel Akanji

Manuel Akanji is the centre-back named in Switzerland's 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup, in Murat Yakin's selection announced on 20 May 2026. He is 30 at kick-off and brings 79 senior caps and 4 international goals into the tournament, among the most experienced defenders in the group. He is on loan at Inter Milan from Manchester City for the 2025-26 season, and Granit Xhaka captains the side.

Switzerland came through UEFA qualifying as group winners and were drawn in Group B with Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Qatar, opening against Qatar in Santa Clara on 13 June. For Akanji it is a third World Cup after Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022, and his experience and composure on the ball make him a senior figure in the defence.

Akanji is a ball-playing centre-back, comfortable in possession and used to passing, carrying and dribbling out from the back. He is versatile enough to play across the back line.

That comfort on the ball lets Switzerland build from defence, and his reading of the game and recovery work cover the spaces behind. His recent club years have come in systems that ask defenders to step forward with the ball as much as defend their box.

Akanji brings 79 caps and a ball-playing centre-back's range to the Switzerland pick, comfortable carrying out from the back and stepping across the line. At £10m, Switzerland sit in Tier 4, a lower-priced card option, qualified as UEFA group winners and drawn with Qatar, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Canada in Group B.

On the pitch, Akanji's return is defensive — covering ground at the back and starting attacks with his passing, with the occasional goal like his strike against Portugal in 2022.