Switzerland announce 26-men World Cup squad: Xhaka & Shaqiri lead, Sommer in

Full List:

Michel Aebischer

Manuel Akanji

Eray Comert

Nico Elvedi

Breel Embolo

Christian Fassnacht

Edimilson Fernandes

Fabian Frei

Remo Freuler

Ardon Jashari

Gregor Kobel

Philipp Kohn

Noah Okafor

Jonas Omlin

Fabian Rieder

Ricardo Rodriguez

Fabian Schar

Haris Seferovic

Xherdan Shaqiri

Yann Sommer

Djibril Sow

Renato Steffen

Ruben Vargas

Silvan Widmer

Granit Xhaka

Denis Zakaria

Murat Yakin named his official squad on Wednesday with an array of Premier League stars, although one notable absentee was Fulham defender Kevin Mbabu.

Newcastle United defender Fabian Schar, Nottingham Forest midfielder Remo Freuler, Chelsea loanee Denis Zakaria along with Arsenal and Manchester City stars Xhaka and Akanji will be jetting off to Qatar from England.

The 27-year-old, who joined the Cottagers during the summer from Wolfsburg, will feel hard done by after also being cut at the final stages ahead of the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Mbabu has 22 caps to his name and will have been hoping to have been boarding the plane for the major tournament.

The right-back would have been hoping his summer switch could have advanced his chances of being in the squad, rather than denting his hopes.

Borussia Dortmund's Gregor Kobel, RB Salzburg's Jonas Omlin and Borussia Monchengladbach shot-stopper Yann Sommer are the goalkeepers selected.

In defence, the stand-out names are of course City's summer signing Akanji and Newcastle's Schar, and they will be joined by the likes of Eray Comert, Nico Elvedi, Ricardo Rodriguez and Silvan Widmer.

Akanji, who joined Pep Guardiola's City from Borussia Dortmund in the summer, will be a key figure in the Swiss defence with his big game experience.

The 27-year-old, who has 42 caps, has become more of a regular than first expected when he joined the Premier League champions - having made 11 appearances in all competitions already this campaign.

Another defender that will play a vital role is Magpies centre-back Schar and will most likely line up alongside Akanji in the heart of defence.

Schar, who has 72 caps, has played a big role in Newcastle's success so far this campaign which sees them sitting third in the Premier League.

Xhaka is the key figure amongst the midfielders selected with 106 caps to his name and being an almost ever-present for his country.

The 30-year-old has also been in good form for Arsenal so far this season, who currently lead the Premier League at this early stage.

Xhaka is joined by Nottingham Forest summer signing Remo Freuler, Chelsea loanee Zakaria, former Liverpool ace Xherdan Shaqiri as well as the likes of Edimilson Fernandes, Ardon Jashari, Fabian Rieder, Djibril Sow, Renato Steffen and Michel Aebischer.

The forward line consists of Monaco star Breel Embolo, Young Boys' Christian Fassnacht, Haris Seferovic of Galatasaray and Augusburg striker Ruben Vargas.

Switzerland will kick-off their campaign in Qatar against Cameroon on Thursday, November 24, before facing Brazil just four days later.

Switzerland will wrap up their group-stage matches against Serbia on Friday, December 2.