Fifa World Cup 2026: What you need to know about Sweden
One of Graham Potter's biggest challenges since taking over as Sweden boss is formulating a system in which both £125m striker Alexander Isak and Arsenal's top scorer Viktor Gyokeres can thrive
- Published
Get the lowdown on every team at the 2026 World Cup. Here we take a closer look at Sweden.
What can I expect from Sweden?
A diabolical qualifying campaign in which the Blagult (blue and yellow) failed to win a single game left their World Cup hopes in tatters. But a somewhat fortuitous path into the play-offs provided hope, and the appointment of Graham Potter- just weeks after he had been sacked by West Ham - proved inspired.
In just his fourth game in charge they secured a dramatic play-off win over Poland that sealed their World Cup spot.
With such a small sample size of games, it remains to be seen exactly how he will get his side to line up, especially now Alexander Isak is fit.
He looks set to opt for a compact and pragmatic 3-4-2-1 that will rely on the energy of their wing-backs getting forward. But could it be a 3-4-1-2 to incorporate British football's most expensive signing Isak alongside Premier League title-winner and play-off hero Viktor Gyokeres?
What are Sweden's strengths?
Few countries in the world can boast strikers of the calibre of Gyokeres and Isak.
Flying wing-backs Gabriel Gudmundson and Daniel Svensson have had excellent club seasons and, along with the likes of Premier League prodigies Yasin Ayari & Lucas Bergvall, form the nucleus of a promising crop of young players.
And what about their weaknesses?
How fit is Isak for the rigours of a World Cup after such a fractured first season at Liverpool.
Can he and Gyokeres both play in Potter's system? The absence of Dejan Kulusevski is a continued blow, while Anthony Elanga had a poor first season at Newcastle.
They don't have a settled goalkeeper and there is a lack of quality outside the first 11.
How might Sweden line up?
Which players should I look out for?
In the absence of Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyokeres stepped up in style with four goals in their two World Cup play-offs games. After he made a shaky start at Arsenal, the only Premier League player to score more than his 14 in all competitions in 2026 was Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins.
Benjamin Nygren was labelled "the strangest player in Scottish football," by pundit Chris Sutton. The attacking midfielder scored an impressive 21 goals in all competitions to sweep the board at Celtic's end of season awards but often frustrated fans by drifting out of games.
The versatile Daniel Svensson has been described as a 'Duracell Bunny' by his Borussia Dortmund boss Niko Kovac following his lung-busting performances at left-back. He is equally at home as a No.6.
Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres was inspired in Sweden's play-off matches scoring four goals, including the winner against Poland to seal their World Cup place.
Who is Sweden's head coach?
Graham Potter's CV took a battering in England, but he's revered in Sweden after his exploits with Ostersund in which he led them from the fourth tier to the top flight, and also to domestic cup glory and qualification into the Europa League.
How did Sweden qualify?
Winless in all six qualifiers, they made the play-offs thanks to topping their Nations League group in 2024 and went on to beat Ukraine and then Poland.
Where can I watch Sweden?
All of Sweden's matches will also be covered live on the BBC Sport website and app with updates, analysis, and fan reaction. Come and be part of it!
Give me a fact to impress my friends
Graham Potter is actually the second Englishman to lead Sweden after George Raynor, who led them to the 1958 World Cup final, a third-place finish in 1950 and Olympic gold in 1948.
Now give me some proper detail
With his reputation in tatters after back-to-back sackings with Chelsea (11 defeats in 31 games) and West Ham (six wins in 25 matches), Graham Potter's career was at a crossroads.
But just 23 days after his Hammers dismissal, he walked out of the frying pan and into the fire as he answered a distress call from a Blagult squad in utter disarray.
The unpopular reign of Jon Dahl Tomasson had come an inevitable end after a third defeat in a row without scoring, just months after they had also lost to Luxembourg. Confidence was at rock bottom with their defence porous, formation ill-suiting, tactics cavalier and injuries rampant.
Even though they failed to win ANY of their six qualifiers (Potter took charge for the last two matches) they fortunately had a play-off place to fall back on as a result of topping their Nations League group in 2024.
With limited preparation time, out went the kamikaze tactics of Tomasson and in came a more pragmatic approach. It paid off in style. "You think you've hit the bottom and just then… the darkest hour is right before the dawn." said a euphoric Potter after beating Poland.
But what of their chances? The last time the World Cup was held in the USA they finished a surprise third in 1994. A repeat of that seems very unlikely, even if Potter can weave some magic.
How have Sweden done at previous World Cups?
Runners-up as hosts in 1958, they've twice finished third – most recently in 1994. Sweden failed to qualify for three of the past four World Cups, but reached the quarter-finals in 2018.
