Xherdan Shaqiri absent from Switzerland's World Cup squad against Qatar

Switzerland starts its 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign against Qatar today., Xherdan Shaqiri, a veteran of prior World Cups, is absent from the squad after retiring from international football in 2024. The 34-year-old midfielder has 125 caps and 32 goals for Switzerland and currently plays at Basel in the Swiss Super League. This marks a significant shift for the Swiss national team as they move into a new era. Despite Shaqiri's absence, Switzerland is expected to advance from their group, which includes Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Qatar.

• 2:58 PMYahoo Sports — Why Xherdan Shaqiri isn't playing for Switzerland at the World Cup