Swiss football team receives heroes' welcome in Zurich after World Cup campaign
The Swiss national football squad was greeted by thousands of supporters in Zurich following their World Cup quarter-final run, underscoring the unifying power of sport for the small European nation.
Thousands of supporters gathered in Zurich’s Turbinenplatz square to welcome the Swiss national football team home following their World Cup campaign in the United States and Canada. The squad, manager Murat Yakin, and staff appeared on stage wearing red t-shirts emblazoned with "History" against a backdrop displaying "We are Switzerland" in the country’s four official languages.
The celebration marks the culmination of a strong period for Swiss football, building on their runs to the last two European Championship quarter-finals. During this tournament, the 19th-ranked nation topped Group B with a draw against Qatar and victories over Bosnia-Hercegovina and co-hosts Canada.
In the knockout stages, Switzerland defeated Algeria and eliminated Colombia on penalties before facing Argentina. The campaign ended on Saturday with a 3-1 extra-time defeat in Kansas City, where striker Breel Embolo was sent off in tears for simulating a foul.
For the Swiss public, the tournament fostered a strong sense of national cohesion. Fans packed bars and fan zones to watch the quarter-final, which concluded shortly before 6:00am local time, before streaming home in daylight.
"We would have loved to stay for another week," manager Murat Yakin told the crowd. He added that returning home to their own fans was lovely and expressed extreme pride in what the staff and players achieved.
Public Support Amid Controversy
The Zurich homecoming featured visible public backing for Embolo following his red card. Supporters held homemade signs, including one reading "Dear Breel Embolo, you're innocent," while another young fan simply asked for his signature.
Captain Granit Xhaka acknowledged the narrow margin of their exit, stating, "With a bit of luck, we might have gone even further." He noted that the team can be really proud of what they accomplished overall.
Goalkeeper Gregor Kobel highlighted the squad's "resilience" and the way everyone "gave it their all" as their defining characteristic. Fans echoed this sentiment, with supporters travelling from across the country to celebrate a team they described as a joy to watch.
