Xhaka Excluded from Switzerland Squad Amid Vaccination Controversy
Granit Xhaka will not join up with Switzerland this week as the fallout from his public comments on his vaccination status hits the national team.
The Swiss Football Association confirmed the decision on Monday, stressing it had been taken jointly with the captain and that he would miss the training camp in Belek, Turkey.
“Following his personal statement regarding his vaccination status, Granit Xhaka will not participate in the men’s national team’s upcoming gathering,” the federation said.
Swiss FA president Peter Knabel backed the move, framing it as a necessary step to steady the waters around the squad.
“We welcome the fact that Granit is taking this step and is prepared to fully clarify the situation,” Knabel said. “At the same time, we mutually concluded that it was in the team’s best interest to proceed with this gathering without him.”
The message from the federation is clear: close ranks, cool tempers, and move on.
“Our priority now is to calm the situation and focus entirely on the team and the upcoming Uefa Nations League fixtures,” Knabel added.
Nations League Demands Full Focus
There is little time for distraction. Switzerland open their Nations League campaign away to North Macedonia on Saturday, then head to Scotland on September 29 in a demanding start to the group.
The schedule tightens in October. On October 3 and 6, the Swiss will host Slovenia and North Macedonia in Lucerne, matches that could shape the entire campaign.
By then, the Xhaka question will be waiting.
“At the end of this international window we will reassess the situation with Granit and discuss the next steps,” Knabel said, leaving the door neither fully open nor firmly shut.
Switzerland are also slated to meet Slovenia on November 13 and Scotland on November 16, again in the Nations League. By that stage, the team will either be pushing for top spot or fighting to salvage the campaign — and the debate over their absent leader may look very different.
