Granit Xhaka will feature at a fourth consecutive FIFA World Cup after Switzerland manager Murat Yakin named the Sunderland captain in his 26-man squad for the tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico this summer.

Xhaka, Switzerland's most capped player with 144 international appearances, headlines a group of four Premier League-based players in the Swiss selection. He is joined by Nottingham Forest striker Dan Ndoye, Leeds United forward Noah Okafor, and Burnley attacker Zeki Amdouni.

Amdouni's fitness a key talking point

Amdouni's inclusion raised eyebrows given he has made only 3 substitute appearances in the Premier League this season after returning from a long-term knee injury earlier this month. Yakin moved to ease concerns at his Wednesday press conference.

"Medically, he is 100% fit. He knows our system. He knows his role. That's the reason why I'm very glad he can be part of it," Yakin said.

The manager also expressed confidence in the overall group: "I think we have selected the best players for the squad and I can't wait to get going."

Experience at the core

Yakin has leaned heavily on familiarity, naming 17 players who appeared at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Alongside Xhaka, Real Betis full-back Ricardo Rodriguez will contest his fourth successive World Cup and stands on 136 caps.

Young Boys forwards Alvyn Sanches and Joel Monteiro missed out despite featuring in friendlies against Germany and Norway in March, representing the most notable omissions from the squad.

Their Young Boys team-mate Christian Fassnacht earned his call-up after leading the Swiss Super League scoring charts with 18 goals. Cedric Itten is also included despite suffering relegation to the German third tier with Fortuna Dusseldorf.

Road to the group stage

Switzerland begin their pre-tournament preparations on Monday, with friendlies against Jordan in St Gallen on 31 May and Australia in San Diego on 6 June.

In Group B, they open against Qatar in Santa Clara on 13 June before taking on Bosnia-Herzegovina and Canada.

Full Switzerland World Cup squad

Goalkeepers: Marvin Keller (Young Boys), Gregor Kobel (Borussia Dortmund), Yvon Mvogo (Lorient).

Defenders: Manuel Akanji (Inter Milan), Aurele Amenda (Eintracht Frankfurt), Eray Comert (Valencia), Nico Elvedi (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Luca Jaquez (VfB Stuttgart), Miro Muheim (Hamburg), Ricardo Rodriguez (Real Betis), Silvan Widmer (Mainz).

Midfielders: Michel Aebischer (Pisa), Christian Fassnacht (Young Boys), Remo Freuler (Bologna), Ardon Jashari (AC Milan), Johan Manzambi (Freiburg), Fabian Rieder (Augsburg), Djibril Sow, Ruben Vargas (both Sevilla), Granit Xhaka (Sunderland), Denis Zakaria (Monaco).

Forwards: Zeki Amdouni (Burnley), Breel Embolo (Stade Rennais), Cedric Itten (Fortuna Dusseldorf), Dan Ndoye (Nottingham Forest), Noah Okafor (Leeds United).