Overview
Sweden's journey to win a ticket to the 2026 World Cup once faced the risk of collapse when they only got one point after the first 4 matches under coach Jon Dahl Tomasson. That series of disappointing results forced the Danish strategist to leave his hot seat in October 2025 after a 0-1 defeat to Kosovo.
The person chosen to revive the team is Graham Potter. Under Potter, Sweden returned to the traditional values that made up its identity: disciplined defense, tight organization and effective counter-attack. Although he once affirmed that he preferred a 4-defender system, the English strategist used a 5-3-2 formation in the play-off round, prioritizing certainty in the defense before thinking about the attacking front.
Sweden's door to return to the World Cup was opened thanks to the Nations League and they have taken advantage of the opportunity excellently.
In the play-off semi-final against Ukraine on a neutral field in Spain, Sweden won 3-1 thanks to Viktor Gyokeres' explosive performance with a hat-trick.
The play-off final against Poland was much more difficult. The Eastern European representative controlled the game for most of the match time, but Gyokeres once again became a hero when he scored the decisive goal in the 88th minute, helping Sweden win a thrilling 3-2 victory and win a ticket to North America.
It is noteworthy that Sweden won a ticket to the World Cup even though they only collected 2 points after 6 matches in the official qualifying round. However, thanks to taking advantage of opportunities in the play-off round, they completed their goal in a way that could not be more dramatic.
At the 2026 World Cup, Sweden will be in Group F with Tunisia, the Netherlands and Japan. Their goal is to compete for a position in the top two to advance to the knockout round.
However, the Nordic team also faces significant losses in force. Captain Dejan Kulusevski will be absent due to injury, while Alexander Isak's fitness and form are still a big question mark. The Liverpool striker has just returned and scored in the 1-3 defeat to Norway after coming on as a substitute.
Coach
In October 2025, Graham Potter publicly expressed his desire to lead the Swedish national team in an interview.
I have a special feeling for Sweden. I love this country and love Swedish football. Leading the national team will be a great opportunity for me" - he shared.
Just a few days later, Potter was officially appointed. Although he did not win in the first 2 matches, he still quickly gained the trust of the Swedish Football Federation. Last March, the contract of the English coach was extended to 2030.
After unsuccessful periods at Chelsea and West Ham, Potter sees his job in Sweden as an ideal opportunity to reassert his ability. Being fluent in Swedish also helps him quickly integrate and create influence in the dressing room.
Star
Alexander Isak once became the most expensive player in Premier League history when he moved from Newcastle United to Liverpool for a fee of £125 million. However, after a not-so-prominent first season at Anfield, the title of number one star of the Swedish national team currently belongs to Viktor Gyokeres.
The Arsenal striker also went through a difficult initial period at the Emirates but exploded at the most important time. He scored 4 out of 6 of Sweden's goals in 2 play-off matches, directly bringing the team to the World Cup.
Gyokeres' reputation was further strengthened after the decisive goal against Poland. The celebration inspired by the character Bane in the movie The Dark Knight Rises quickly became a trend throughout Sweden.
Notable faces
Besides Benjamin Nygren of Celtic, a name that could create a surprise at the World Cup is Gustaf Lagerbielke. The center-back from Braga had an excellent performance in the play-off final against Poland. Not only scoring with a powerful header, he also excellently completed the task of blocking Robert Lewandowski.
The silent hero
If they want to compete with technically rich opponents like the Netherlands or Japan, Sweden will need a lot of contribution from Jesper Karlstrom.
The 30-year-old midfielder is currently the captain of Udinese and is considered an important link in Potter's tactical system. Karlstrom is a typical defensive midfielder with strong tackling ability, good situation reading and effective match timing.
