Xhaka Steps Aside as Switzerland Prepares for Nations League
Granit Xhaka will sit out Switzerland’s upcoming training camp and early Uefa Nations League fixtures after discussions with the Swiss Football Association in the wake of his public comments on his vaccination status.
The Swiss FA confirmed the decision on Monday, stressing it had been reached together with the captain and that he would not travel to Belek, Turkey, where the national team gather this week.
“Following his personal statement regarding his vaccination status, Granit Xhaka will not participate in the men’s national team’s upcoming gathering,” read the association’s statement.
Swiss FA president Peter Knabel backed the move and underlined the need to draw a line under the debate around the midfielder, at least for now.
“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.
“Our priority now is to calm the situation and focus entirely on the team and the upcoming Uefa Nations League fixtures.”
Nations League Demands Full Focus
The timing is delicate. Switzerland open their Nations League campaign away to North Macedonia on Saturday, a potentially awkward trip to start a new cycle. They then head to Scotland on September 29, another test in a group that offers little margin for distraction.
The schedule tightens in October. On October 3 and 6, Switzerland will host Slovenia and North Macedonia in Lucerne, matches that could quickly shape the tone of their campaign.
Knabel made it clear that Xhaka’s international future is not closed, only paused.
“At the end of this international window we will reassess the situation with Granit and discuss the next steps,” he said.
Switzerland then round out their group programme in November, with fixtures against Slovenia on November 13 and Scotland on November 16. By then, the table will tell its story. The only question is whether their long-time standard-bearer will be back at the heart of it.
