Sweden have announced their 26-man squad for the FIFA World Cup 2026™.
Graham Potter is able to call upon Liverpool’s Alexander Isak after the forward missed their UEFA play-off matches with a broken leg. He joins an exciting attacking line-up which includes Arsenal’s Viktor Gyokeres and Newcastle United winger Anthony Elanga.
There is, however, no room for Dejan Kulusevski. The 26-year-old hasn’t played since last May following knee surgery which has been furthered hampered by setbacks. Barcelona youngster Roony Bardghji and Celta’s Williot Swedberg have also been omitted. Full-back Herman Johansson is the squad’s 27th man and will feature in their pre-tournament friendlies versus Norway and Greece.
Sweden’s World Cup squad
Goalkeepers
Viktor Johansson
Gustaf Lagerbielke
Kristoffer Nordfeldt
Jacob Zetterstrom
Defenders
Hjalmar Ekdal
Gabriel Gudmundsson
Isak Hien
Victor Lindelof
Eric Smith
Carl Starfelt
Daniel Svensson
Midfielders
Yasin Ayari
Lucas Bergvall
Jesper Karlstrom
Benjamin Nygren
Ken Sema
Elliot Stroud
Mattias Svanberg
Besfort Zeneli
Forwards
Taha Ali
Alexander Bernhardsson
Anthony Elanga
Viktor Gyokeres
Alexander Isak
Gustaf Nilsson
All squads are provisional until the final list of 26 players is announced by FIFA, following their submission by participating teams, on 2 June.
Sweden’s unique path to the finals
The Blågult begun their World Cup qualifying journey with Jon Dahl Tomasson at the helm, but three defeats and a draw from four qualifiers left the nation bottom of Group B, and prompted a change in the dugout. Potter, who had led Swedish minnows Ostersunds to glory during the 2010s, was the man chosen as his replacement.
He could only manage one point from his two qualifiers, though, which left them bottom of the pile. However, due to Sweden finishing top of their UEFA Nations League group, they were afforded a spot in the UEFA play-offs. A Gyokeres hat-trick saw them down Ukraine in their opener, with the Arsenal man on hand again to net the odd goal in five as Sweden defeated Poland to scrape through to their 13th global finals.
