Sweden World Cup 2026: Graham Potter and the order of the Swedish

Sweden are at the 2026 World Cup, having failed to qualify for the 2022 iteration. Graham Potter is managing the Blagult these days, returning to his true calling of being the hipster’s choice after being eaten alive by Clearlake’s corrosive Chelsea ownership and the fact West Ham are West Ham.

How will the former Ostersunds manager get on? Is 76-year-old Zlatan in the squad? Will I make an ABBA reference? Take a chance on me and my Sweden 2026 World Cup preview and find out.

Goalkeepers: Viktor Johansson (Stoke City), Kristoffer Nordfeldt (AIK), Jacob Widell Zetterstrom (Derby County)

Defenders: Hjalmar Ekdal (Burnley), Gabriel Gudmundsson (Leeds United), Isak Hien (Atalanta), Herman Johansson (FC Dallas), Gustaf Lagerbielke (Braga), Victor Lindelof (Aston Villa), Erik Smith (St. Pauli), Carl Starfelt (Celta Vigo), Elliot Stroud (Mjallby), Daniel Svensson (Borussia Dortmund)

Midfielders: Taha Ali (Malmo), Yasin Ayari (Brighton), Lucas Bergvall (Tottenham), Jesper Karlstrom (Udinese), Ken Sema (Pafos), Mattias Svanberg (Wolfsburg), Besfort Zeneli (Union St-Gilloise)

Forwards: Alexander Bernhardsson (Holstein Kiel), Anthony Elanga (Newcastle United), Viktor Gyokeres (Arsenal), Alexander Isak (Liverpool), Gustaf Nilsson (Club Brugge), Benjamin Nygren (Celtic)

World Cup Odds

Sweden are back at the World Cup after the agony of losing out on qualification for the 2022 tournament. It is a new breed these days, with the shadow cast by Zlatan Ibrahimovic now a thing of the past. Football’s most indelible post-Baggio ponytail was front and centre of the national debate for over a decade. But now it falls to a new iteration of Swedish attacker to provide the Blagult with firepower.

Viktor Gyokeres and Alexander Isak changed clubs last summer and found themselves under the microscope. Arsenal’s new boy Gyokeres ended the season with a Premier League title while Isak struggled in a Liverpool side that finished fifth. Both will be looking to make their mark in North America. 

Lucas Bergvall spent his season battling relegation with Tottenham Hotspur. But the bright, creative midfielder is the heartbeat of this Sweden side. Borussia Dortmund’s Daniel Svensson and Aston Villa’s Victor Lindelof, who captains this team, provide solidity in defence.

At the helm of all this talent is Potter. Maligned at Chelsea and West Ham, the Englishman returns to the country where he first excelled as a coach. Potter led Ostersunds to two promotions and a Swedish Cup win during a legendary tenure at the helm. Now he aims for the same rejuvenation of the national team.

14 June 8pm local (15 June 3am BST) – vs Tunisia (Monterrey)

20 June 12pm local (6pm BST) – vs Netherlands (Houston)

25 June 6pm local (26 June 12am BST) – vs Japan (Arlington)

Football Odds

Player To Watch: Viktor Gyokeres

I nearly opted for Isak, due to the striker having something to prove following his false start at Liverpool. When the ex-Newcastle man is fit and firing, he can puncture any defence in the world.

But I’m going to opt for a man many fans tried to place in the same ‘flop’ category as his countryman. Fans of other clubs poked fun at the Arsenal man, but his 14 goals and work as a focal point helped bag the Gunners a first Premier League title since the invincible season two decades ago.

Gyokeres has 19 goals for his country in just 32 Sweden appearances. Look for the ex-Coventry City marksman to make an impact.

Prediction: Round of 16

Sweden have the firepower and defensive bedrock to escape this group. Only the Netherlands are a better man-for-man outfit than Potter’s side. Beyond that, it is easy to see Sweden subsumed by the superstar sides in this tournament. A brave and creditable last-16 exit is my pick for Potter’s yellow-and-blue boys.