Why is Noah Okafor still on the bench for Switzerland?
Noah Okafor has stayed on Switzerland's World Cup bench because Murat Yakin has not used the Leeds United forward in any of the team's three group-stage matches, despite naming him in the 26-man squad. Okafor says he was lined up to start against Canada before in-game changes kept him out again — echoing his unused Euro 2024 tournament.
The question has followed the 26-year-old since he rejoined the national setup after a spell away from the Swiss camp. When he arrived at Elland Road from AC Milan in 2025, he was out of the international picture. A recall and eight Premier League goals made his bench role one of the World Cup's puzzling subplots.
Key Takeaways
- Noah Okafor was an unused substitute in all three of Switzerland's group-stage World Cup fixtures under Murat Yakin.
- The Leeds winger says Yakin told him he was supposed to start against Canada before tactical changes during the match altered the plan.
- Okafor admits he is annoyed but insists he is fit, focused, and not the disruptive presence some Swiss media have suggested.
- Switzerland's 88-year wait for a World Cup knockout victory ended in the round of 32, and Okafor's wait for minutes finally ended too.
Why did Murat Yakin keep Noah Okafor on the bench?
Through the group stage, Yakin never turned to Okafor. The attacker sat unused against Qatar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Canada as Switzerland advanced. That pattern mirrored Euro 2024, when Okafor did not play a single minute across five matches.
Okafor has been candid that his relationship with Yakin was complicated before this tournament. He was out of the squad when he joined Leeds, and frustration after the Euros contributed to a lengthy absence. He says he has grown since then, but Yakin's selections have not yet rewarded his club form.
The clearest explanation came from his talk with Yakin about the Canada fixture. Okafor says he was supposed to be in the starting lineup. "But that's football," he told reporters. "Things can always change during the game." In the end, the coach decided otherwise.
What did Noah Okafor say about his lack of World Cup minutes?
Speaking ahead of Switzerland's round-of-32 tie with Algeria, Okafor did not hide his feelings. "I'm perhaps a little annoyed because every player wants to play," he said. "So far, it hasn't happened, but that's football, and I'm trying to stay focused and wait for my chance."
He pushed back on suggestions that frustration makes him a problem. SRF commentator Sascha Ruefer had described him as a "ticking time bomb." Okafor rejected that: "I'm not. I'm happy to be here, healthy, fit, and I'm trying to support the team as best I can."
He also addressed fitness doubts after a late-season calf issue. Okafor said he rested once Leeds' league campaign ended and trained individually as a precaution. "In the end, the coach decides," he added, "but I'm 100 percent ready."
Has Noah Okafor's painful World Cup wait finally ended?
For weeks, the answer was no. Okafor's absence became a talking point in Switzerland and among Leeds fans. He was among the squad players still waiting for a first touch as the knockout stage arrived.
That changed against Algeria in the round of 32. Switzerland ended an 88-year wait for a World Cup knockout victory — their first since 1938 — and Okafor's wait for action finally ended too. After sitting through the group stage, the Leeds star at last got on the pitch.
It matters for a player who wants to help Switzerland go as far as possible, whether through "a few minutes, an assist, or a goal." For more tournament drama, see our Celebrity Breaking News coverage. Okafor's full comments appear in the Yorkshire Post.