Granit Xhaka, Manuel Akanji included in Switzerland 2022 World Cup squad

Xhaka, who will captain his nation at the tournament, has a wealth of experience at international level and the midfielder is one of only two members of Murat Yakin's squad, along with Xherdan Shaqiri, who has over 100 caps.

The 30-year-old has transformed under the tutelage of Mikel Arteta this season and has been a key player for the Gunners, operating as a box-to-box midfielder and contributing with four goals and three assists in 18 appearances across all competitions.

Meanwhile, Man City's summer signing Akanji has settled in quickly under Pep Guardiola and has been unfazed by the stern competition that he has faced from Ruben Dias, John Stones and Nathan Ake at centre-back.

The 27-year-old has helped the reigning Premier League champions keep six clean sheets in his 11 appearances across all competitions, and his recent performances were rewarded when he received the club's October Player of the Month award.

Xhaka and Akanji are two of five Premier League players who have been called up by the Swiss, along with Newcastle United's Fabian Schar, Nottingham Forest's Remo Freuler and Chelsea's Denis Zakaria, who is on loan at Stamford Bridge from Juventus.

Elsewhere, the aforementioned Shaqiri - who currently plies his trade with MLS outfit Chicago Fire - will be representing Switzerland at his sixth major tournament, with the visit to Qatar his fourth World Cup after featuring in the 2010, 2014 and 2018 events.

Bundesliga goalkeeper duo Yann Sommer (Borussia Monchengladbach) and Gregor Kobel (Borussia Dortmund) have both been called up along with Red Bull Salzburg's Philipp Kohn and Montpellier HSC's Jonas Omlin, while Lorient stopper Yvon Mvogo has picked up a thigh injury and will miss the tournament.

Swiss quintet Fabian Frei (Basel), Ardon Jashari (Luzern), Renato Steffen (Lugano), Fabian Rieder and Christian Fassnacht (both Young Boys) all play their club football in the Swiss Super League and will be heading to the World Cup.

Indeed, Frei, Jashari, Steffen and Rieder will all be competing at the World Cup for the very first time along with Bologna's Michel Aebischer and Salzburg duo Koln and Noah Okafor.

Speaking to reporters after revealing his 26-man squad, Yakin said: "We were spoiled for choice in some positions. Many players have delivered convincing performances in recent weeks and months. But in the end I had to limit myself to 26 names. I'm convinced that these 26 players can always help us to achieve our goals."

Switzerland will test their mettle against five-time world champions Brazil as well as Serbia and Cameroon in Group G, with their opening game in Qatar against the latter on November 24.

Switzerland's 2022 World Cup squad in full:

Goalkeepers: Gregor Kobel (Borussia Dortmund), Philipp Kohn (Red Bull Salzburg), Jonas Omlin (Montpellier HSC), Yann Sommer (Borussia Monchengladbach)

Defenders: Manuel Akanji (Manchester City), Eray Comert (Valencia), Nico Elvedi (Borussia Monchengladbach), Ricardo Rodriguez (Torino), Fabian Schar (Newcastle United), Silvan Widmer (Mainz 05)

Midfielders: Granit Xhaka (Arsenal), Edimilson Fernandes (Mainz 05), Fabian Frei (Basel), Remo Freuler (Nottingham Forest), Ardon Jashari (Luzern), Fabian Rieder (Young Boys), Xherdan Shaqiri (Chicago Fire), Djibril Sow (Eintracht Frankfurt), Renato Steffen (Lugano), Denis Zakaria (Chelsea), Michel Aebischer (Bologna)

Forwards: Breel Embolo (Monaco), Christian Fassnacht (Young Boys), Noah Okafor (Red Bull Salzburg), Haris Seferovic (Galatasaray), Ruben Vargas (Augsburg)