From last place in qualifying to the World Cup stage — Sweden’s dramatic comeback story
SWEDEN 🇸🇪
FIFA World Cup 2026 – The Return of Blågult
The Big Picture
Sweden is heading back to the FIFA World Cup for the first time since Russia 2018 after one of the most unusual qualification stories in recent memory.
The Blågult failed to win a single match in their qualifying group but still reached the tournament thanks to the UEFA Nations League playoff pathway.
How Sweden Qualified
Sweden finished last in UEFA Group B with only two points and no victories during the standard qualification phase.
However, strong performances in the UEFA Nations League secured a playoff place. Once there, Graham Potter’s team transformed completely.
Sweden comfortably defeated Ukraine in the semi-final before beating Poland 3-2 in the playoff final, with Viktor Gyökeres scoring the decisive goal in the 88th minute.
Coach
Graham Potter became Sweden head coach in October 2025, replacing Jon Dahl Tomasson.
Despite a difficult start, the Swedish federation extended Potter’s contract through 2030 after the team’s successful playoff run.
Potter is only the second English manager in Sweden’s national-team history after George Raynor, who guided the country to the 1958 World Cup final.
Group F Schedule
- Sweden vs Tunisia — Guadeloupe
- Netherlands vs Sweden
- Japan vs Sweden
World Cup History
- Confederation: UEFA
- World Cup appearances: 13
- Best result: Runners-up (1958)
- Last appearance: Russia 2018
- First appearance: Italy 1934
- Previous appearances: 1934, 1938, 1950, 1958, 1970, 1974, 1978, 1990, 1994, 2002, 2006, 2018, 2026
The Great Swedish Generation?
Sweden arrives in North America with one of its most talented squads in years.
Viktor Gyökeres has become the symbol of the team after his decisive playoff goal, while Alexander Isak and Dejan Kulusevski are expected to return from injury in time for the tournament.
The squad also includes Victor Lindelöf, Anthony Elanga, Gabriel Gudmundsson, Benjamin Nygren, and a wave of highly rated young talents such as Lucas Bergvall, Yasin Ayari, and Roony Bardghji.
A Controversial Qualification
Sweden’s qualification sparked debate across Europe because the team reached the World Cup despite collecting only two points in the regular group stage.
Critics argued that the playoff system overly rewarded Nations League performances, especially compared with teams such as Italy and Poland, which earned far more points during qualification but failed to reach the tournament.
Greatest World Cup Moments
Sweden’s most famous World Cup run came in 1958, when the host nation reached the final before losing to Pelé’s Brazil.
The country also enjoyed memorable campaigns in 1994, finishing third in the United States, and in 2018, when Sweden reached the quarter-finals in Russia.
2026 Expectations
Sweden’s road to 2026 may have been controversial, but with a talented new generation and attacking firepower led by Gyökeres and Isak, the Blågult could become one of the tournament’s most dangerous outsiders.
SWEDEN
Goalkeepers
- #1 Jacob Widell Zetterström (Derby County, England)
- #13 Kristoffer Nordfeldt (AIK, Sweden)
- #21 Viktor Johansson (Stoke City, England)
Defenders
- #2 Gustaf Lagerbielke (Braga, Portugal)
- #3 Victor Lindelöf (Aston Villa, England)
- #4 Isak Hien (Atalanta, Italy)
- #5 Gabriel Gudmundsson (Leeds United, England)
- #6 Nils Johansson (FC Dallas, United States)
- #12 Viktor Johansson (Stoke City, England)
- #15 Carl Starfelt (Celta Vigo, Spain)
- #19 Mattias Svanberg (Wolfsburg, Germany)
- #20 Eric Smith (St. Pauli, Germany)
- #24 Elliot Stroud (Mjällby AIF, Sweden)
Midfielders
- #7 Lucas Bergvall (Tottenham Hotspur, England)
- #8 Daniel Svensson (Borussia Dortmund, Germany)
- #14 Hjalmar Ekdal (Burnley, England)
- #16 Jesper Karlström (Udinese, Italy)
- #18 Yasin Ayari (Brighton & Hove Albion, England)
- #22 Besfort Zeneli (Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, Belgium)
Forwards
- #9 Alexander Isak (Liverpool, England)
- #10 Benjamin Nygren (Celtic, Scotland)
- #11 Anthony Elanga (Newcastle United, England)
- #17 Viktor Gyökeres (Arsenal, England)
- #23 Roony Bardghji (AIK, Sweden)
- #25 Gustaf Nilsson (Club Brugge, Belgium)
- #26 Taha Ali (Malmö FF, Sweden)
Head Coach
- Graham Potter (England)
