Top five Switzerland players with most FIFA World Cup appearances ft. Granit Xhaka & Ricardo Rodriguez
(Courtesy : Getty)
Switzerland kicked off their World Cup campaign against Qatar at Levi’s Stadium tonight.
Granit Xhaka and Ricardo Rodriguez headlined the Swiss starting lineup for their FIFA World Cup 2026 opener against Qatar at Levi’s Stadium. In the process, the experienced duo entered their names in their country’s football history.
Tonight’s appearance for Xhaka and Rodriguez marked their 13th appearance in FIFA’s flagship tournament, which is the second most in Swiss history. Only Xherdan Shaqiri, who retired from international football in 2024, has more, with 14 World Cup appearances.
Most FIFA World Cup appearances for Switzerland
| Sl No | Player | World Cup apperances |
| 1 | Xherdan Shaqiri | 14 |
| 2 | Ricardo Rodriguez | 13 |
| = | Granit Xhaka | 13 |
| 4 | Stephan Lichsteiner | 10 |
| = | Valon Behrami | 10 |
| = | Haris Seferovic | 10 |
Manuel Akanji and Breel Embolo, who are both in the Swiss squad for this year’s tournament, have nine appearances and are in line to enter the top five in the coming days.
Third World Cup for Xhaka & Rodriguez
Interestingly, tonight’s appearance was the fourth time that Xhaka and Rodriguez represented their nation at the World Cup, having done so in 2014, 2018, 2022, and 2026. In doing so, they matched the national record held by Shaqiri (2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022) and Valon Behrami (2006, 2010, 2014, and 2018).
Haris Seferovic, Charles ‘Kiki’ Antenen, Johan Djourou, Akanji, and Embolo have played in three World Cups each.
Who has the most FIFA World Cup appearances for Switzerland?
Xherdan Shaqiri holds the record with 14 appearances across four World Cups (2010, 2014, 2018, 2022).
Which Swiss players made appearances record vs Qatar?
Granit Xhaka and Ricardo Rodríguez both made their 13th World Cup appearance, the second‑most in Swiss history.
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Sushruta has spent over two years covering football, with a particular focus on Indian and international competitions. Alongside football, he has reported on a variety of sports, bringing curiosity and perspective to every story. When he’s not following the action, he can usually be found binge-watching movies or getting lost in a good book.