Granit Xhaka is calmness personified when talk turns to the . It will be his fourth edition of the global showpiece, after Brazil 2014, Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022. The midfielder has featured in 12 World Cup matches – a Swiss record – and has worn the captain's armband since the end of 2019, something he does not take for granted.
"I've been lucky and privileged to play alongside some really big names, and for a team that have achieved a lot in recent years. It's not a given that you'll make it to every finals competition," the 33-year-old told FIFA.
When Xhaka reflects on his career so far, his thoughts quickly turn to all that came before football, and to his parents Ragip and Eli, who, with the help of Amnesty International, fled the former Yugoslavia to build a new life in Basel. "I was born in Switzerland, but it was a completely new country for my parents," he reflected.
The boy who took his first steps in the game at the age of four is now the Switzerland captain, and will once again lead his team at a World Cup – this time in Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area and Vancouver. "That makes me both proud and happy," he said. "You never forget all the work you put in as a kid. One of my dreams has come true."
Anyone who has followed Xhaka's journey knows that talk about "hunger" is not just lip service. In July 2025, he took what was perhaps the most daring step of his career, moving from UEFA Champions League outfit Bayer Leverkusen, whom he had skippered to a historic domestic double the previous year, to Premier League newcomers Sunderland. He signed a three-year contract on Wearside, and was immediately named captain by coach Regis Le Bris.
Many shook their heads in disbelief, but Xhaka saw it differently. "I took on a huge challenge, and a lot of people criticised me for going from a Champions League club to a newly promoted side. But I'm the kind of guy who likes to take risks. I love a challenge – not just on the pitch, but off it, too."
His decision was vindicated when he helped the Black Cats secure Premier League safety with room to spare, before going one better by clinching a place in next season’s UEFA Europa League on the final day of the campaign. "As long as I still have that hunger to get up every day and improve, you will see me out on the pitch," the midfield general said, reflecting on his ethos.
The Switzerland dressing room is unrecognisable from the one where the young Xhaka came of age alongside the likes of Valon Behrami, Gokhan Inler and Stephan Lichtsteiner. That core of experienced players has shrunk over time – though Remo Freuler and Ricardo Rodriguez are still mainstays of the squad – leaving room for a new crop of Swiss starlets to break through.
"We are a completely different team to just a few years ago," admitted Xhaka. "We have a new generation with lots of young players, but also a good blend of youth and experience. It's important for us to take responsibility and to set an example for the younger players."
Under Murat Yakin, the Swiss breezed to qualification as unbeaten group winners with four wins, two draws, 14 goals scored and just two conceded – only England boasted a better defensive record. But what can Swiss fans expect to see in North America? "A unit, a close-knit team, on and off the pitch. A team that will give everything – right up to the 90th, 95th minute," promised Xhaka.
While Xhaka has forged an impressive career in Europe, he also has a perhaps less well-known connection to California.
In July 2016, having just signed for Arsenal, he made his debut as a substitute in the Major League Soccer All-Star Game in the Bay Area. Three days later, the Gunners also played in the Los Angeles area, against Mexican outfit Chivas, with Xhaka in the starting line-up.
Now, 10 years on, he is set to return to the Golden State. Switzerland's opening match on 13 June will take them to the Bay Area, and five days later, they will run out at Los Angeles Stadium. "I can still remember it all very clearly; it was a wonderful experience," he recalled. "Just hearing the words 'Los Angeles' is enough to get you excited. The people there are very open, honest and straightforward."
Switzerland's third group match will see them head to Vancouver, where they will face co-hosts Canada at BC Place Vancouver on 24 June. "For us, it’s definitely an away game," the cultured left-footer warned. "We know that Canada can be very dangerous."
As composed as he may be, Xhaka still has a few superstitions – "I always start by dressing the right side of my body first – my shinpad, my sock, my boot" – and he still gets butterflies in his stomach before kick-off. "It's not fear, it's more like adrenaline. As long as I feel that rush, I'm happy. As soon as that's gone, I won't be here anymore."
For Switzerland, the first task is obvious – to safely navigate the group stage. "A must for Switzerland, and for us as a team," insists Xhaka. But asked about what his ideal scenario would be, he says: "I love to dream, and I dream big. I'm not going to say the word that's on my mind right now. But you can dream, you're allowed to – and it does you good."
He also calmly brushes off the question of whether this might be his last World Cup. "To be honest, I don't think so. As long as I still have that hunger, that determination and, above all, my health, I want to keep playing for as long as possible."
It is precisely those qualities that define the Swiss captain ahead of his fourth World Cup. Ever curious, adventurous and ambitious – but not arrogant – and with all the nous that comes with being a record-breaking international.
"We want to make our dreams come true – by achieving something remarkable," he declared.
Sources: FIFA Official
