Noah Okafor returns from injury before Switzerland’s 2026 World Cup opener

yorkshireeveningpost

Noah Okafor returned from a calf injury as a late substitute in Switzerland’s final pre-World Cup friendly against Australia on Saturday in Basel. The 26-year-old midfielder had missed the previous three matches for Leeds United but is now available for Switzerland’s 2026 World Cup opener next Saturday.

Noah Okafor made an injury comeback for Switzerland as a late substitute in their final pre-World Cup friendly, a 1-1 draw with Australia on Saturday in Basel. The 26-year-old midfielder had missed the last three matches for Leeds United due to a calf injury but is now available for Switzerland’s 2026 World Cup opener next Saturday.

Okafor had shown good form at the end of Leeds United’s season before the injury sidelined him. He was selected by coach Murat Yakin for Switzerland’s World Cup squad despite missing the penultimate warm-up match against Jordan the previous Sunday. Yakin expressed no concerns about the player’s longer-term availability ahead of the tournament.

The appearance marked Okafor’s first in over five weeks, joining the game with 11 minutes remaining. In the friendly, Dan Ndoye gave Switzerland the lead in the 14th minute, with Australia’s Tete Yengi equalizing four minutes before the hour mark.

Okafor is traveling as one of four Leeds United players at the tournament, alongside Brenden Aaronson representing the USA, Gabi Gudmundsson for Sweden and Ao Tanaka playing for Japan. Switzerland will open their Group B campaign against Qatar next Saturday evening.