The Leeds United winger has been offered some late World Cup hope after the decision
Isaac Johnson Leeds United reporter
12:29, 23 Mar 2026
Noah Okafor will be playing for Swizterland this international break
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Noah Okafor will be playing for Swizterland this international break(Image: Mark Cosgrove/News Images/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Noah Okafor’s 16-month exile from the Switzerland national team has ended with the Leeds United winger named as a late injury replacement in Murat Yakin’s squad.
Okafor has not played for his country since November 2024 amid a long-standing rift with head coach Yakin. But he has now offered Okafor the chance to build on his 24 caps and two goals having been called up to replace injured Valencia midfielder Filip Ugrinic.
Reacting to the news, Okafor said on Instagram: “Grateful for the chance to be back. I’ll give evrything I have to help the team. The World Cup dream is alive. "
The 25-year-old played 43 minutes across three substitute appearances at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar but it seemed that hopes of competing at a second finals were off the table given Yakin’s persistent snubs.
The rift seemed to begin during the summer of 2024, when Yakin told reporters during the European Championships: “Noah has to deal with competition. Just talking doesn't help; he has to deliver on the pitch.”
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Okafor, then of AC Milan, failed to come off the bench all tournament. After missing two international squads, the attacker briefly came back into the fold for November’s Nations League matches in November 2024 but has not been selected since.
In the interim, questions about why such an esteemed player was being consistently shunned have been levelled at Yakin, who has insisted that the door was always open for his return.
Yet even as recently as last November, Yakin said: “I've spoken to Okafor repeatedly, telling him what I expect from him on and off the pitch. I hope my words will eventually get through to him.”
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However, it seems the rift between player and coach has receded. Okafor returned to action in Saturday’s goalless draw with Brentford, coming off the bench having been sidelined for a month with a hamstring injury.
He will be in the Swiss squad that takes on Germany, who have called up Leeds colleague Anton Stach for the first time in almost four years. They contest a friendly on Friday before taking on Norway and Leeds-born Erling Haaland on Tuesday.
Loaned-out Leeds defender Isaac Schmidt, currently at Werder Bremen, has been dealt a blow having not been selected by Yakin, who had told the full-back he would be on the plane bound for the World Cup if he earned regular game time this season. He has played just 105 minutes since the start of February.