Okafor says he will not play for Switzerland under Yakin

Leeds United striker Noah Okafor has opted to retire from Swiss national duty, citing a breach of trust with coach Murat Yakin. The 26-year-old, who has earned 26 caps for Switzerland since his debut in 2019, revealed his decision on Instagram. Okafor claimed his choice was not related to limited playing opportunities, as he only saw 19 minutes at the World Cup, serving as a substitute in Switzerland's last-32 knockout stage win over Algeria.

However, he attributed his decision to how he perceived himself to be treated by the national team's leadership following the tournament. "Things happened that deeply hurt me. Trust was broken. Promises were not kept," he stated. Okafor also highlighted the criticism he faced for minor mistakes during the Algeria match, describing the reaction as deeply hurtful.

He concluded that he no longer wished to represent Switzerland under Yakin. The Swiss Football Association acknowledged Okafor's decision and expressed respect for it, wishing him success with his club. Switzerland's upcoming 2026-27 Nations League match against North Macedonia is scheduled for September 26. Okafor joined Leeds from Italian side AC Milan in August 2025 for a fee of £18m. Murat Yakin has been the head coach of Switzerland since August 2021.