Switzerland to play in Skopje without captain Granit Xhaka
The Swiss FA and Xhaka agreed he will not join the Belek training camp while a Lucerne probe into an alleged forged 2022 COVID certificate proceeds.
Switzerland will travel to Skopje without their captain, Granit Xhaka, for the opening UEFA Nations League match against North Macedonia on Saturday, September 26 at 20:45. The Swiss squad will begin the campaign missing their key midfielder after a decision taken this week.
Reason and investigation
The Swiss Football Association announced that Xhaka will be absent from the next four Nations League matches while authorities investigate allegations he used a forged COVID-19 certificate. It is claimed that the certificate dates from 2022 and that the Public Prosecutor's Office in Lucerne is conducting the probe; the presumption of innocence applies.
As a result of the ongoing investigation, Xhaka and the federation agreed that he would not join the team's training camp in Belek on Monday, September 21, 2026.
The absence of the captain leaves Switzerland without one of its most experienced leaders on the field for the encounter in Skopje. North Macedonia and Switzerland meet in Group play of the Nations League with both sides eager for a strong start.
Coaching staff will need to reshuffle the midfield and leadership roles for the upcoming fixtures while the legal process continues in Lucerne.
Photo: press material from the event
