Sweden World Cup 2026 Squad of Final 26 Players

The Blågult are back — and they’re bringing one of the most dangerous strike partnerships in the entire tournament. Graham Potter has officially confirmed Sweden’s final 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, ending their wait since missing out on Qatar 2022. The headline news is the return of Liverpool’s Alexander Isak, who joins Arsenal’s Viktor Gyökeres in what is genuinely one of the most exciting attacking pairings at the entire World Cup.

But there is heartbreak too — Tottenham’s Dejan Kulusevski misses out after a season ruined by knee surgery, while two of Sweden’s brightest young prospects have also been left at home.

Sweden’s path to North America was unconventional, to say the least. Drawn into Group F from June 11 to July 19, 2026, alongside the Netherlands, Japan, and Tunisia, Potter’s side now face the task of proving that their qualification — achieved without winning a single group match — was no fluke.

Here is everything you need to know about the Sweden World Cup 2026 Squad, Key players, schedule, and more.

Sweden’s Final 26-Man Squad for FIFA World Cup 2026

Graham Potter’s Sweden World Cup 2026 Squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup:

• Goalkeepers: Viktor Johansson (Stoke City), Jacob Widell Zetterström (Derby County), Kristoffer Nordfeldt (AIK)
• Defenders: Victor Lindelöf (Aston Villa), Hjalmar Ekdal (Burnley), Isak Hien (Atalanta BC), Carl Starfelt (Celta de Vigo), Gabriel Gudmundsson (Leeds United), Daniel Svensson (Borussia Dortmund), Gustaf Lagerbielke (SC Braga), Elliot Stroud (Mjällby AIF), Herman Johansson (FC Dallas)*, Eric Smith (FC St. Pauli)
• Midfielders: Lucas Bergvall (Tottenham Hotspur), Yasin Ayari (Brighton & Hove Albion), Mattias Svanberg (VfL Wolfsburg), Jesper Karlström (Udinese), Besfort Zeneli (Royale Union Saint-Gilloise), Ken Sema (Pafos FC), Taha Ali (Malmö FF), Alexander Bernhardsson (Holstein Kiel)
• Forwards: Viktor Gyökeres (Arsenal), Alexander Isak (Liverpool), Anthony Elanga (Newcastle United), Gustaf Nilsson (Club Brugge), Benjamin Nygren (Celtic)

* Emil Holm (Bologna) was originally part of the squad. The defender got injured a couple of days before the tournament and was replaced by Herman Johansson (FC Dallas).

The Great Escape: How Sweden Qualified Without Winning a Group Game

The story of how Sweden made it to North America is one of the most unusual qualification tales of the entire World Cup cycle — and it began with genuine crisis.

The Blågult began 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, prompting a change in the dugout. Graham Potter — who had previously led Swedish minnows Östersund to glory during the 2010s — was brought in as his replacement.

Even under Potter, results barely improved. He could only manage one point from his two remaining qualifiers, leaving Sweden bottom of their group. Sweden made history with their World Cup 2026 qualification, qualifying without winning a single game in their group, which Switzerland eventually won.

The lifeline came through the back door. Because Sweden had finished top of their UEFA Nations League group the previous year, they were afforded a spot in the European play-offs. And there, everything changed.

A Viktor Gyökeres hat-trick saw them down Ukraine in their play-off opener, with the Arsenal striker on hand again to net the decisive goal as Sweden defeated Poland to scrape through to their 13th World Cup finals.

It is a genuinely remarkable story — a team that lost three of their first four qualifiers, won zero group games, and still ended up at the World Cup because of one player’s individual brilliance in a two-legged play-off.

The Big Omissions: Kulusevski, Bardghji, and Swedberg Left Out

Sweden’s squad announcement was defined as much by who didn’t make it as by who did.

The most significant absence is Dejan Kulusevski. The Tottenham forward hasn’t played since last May following knee surgery, which setbacks have further hampered. For a player of Kulusevski’s quality — a Premier League regular and one of Sweden’s most technically gifted attackers — missing a home-region World Cup through injury is a genuine blow to Potter’s options in the final third.

Two of Sweden’s most exciting young prospects were also left out. Barcelona youngster Roony Bardghji and Celta’s Williot Swedberg have both been omitted from the final 26 — decisions that suggest Potter has prioritised experience and proven club form over potential for this tournament.

Key Players to Watch at the Sweden World Cup roster 2026

Alexander Isak — The Liverpool Marksman

Graham Potter is able to call upon Liverpool’s Alexander Isak after the forward missed Sweden’s UEFA play-off matches with a broken leg. His return to full fitness and inclusion in the squad is one of the best pieces of news Potter could have received.

Isak’s combination of pace, technical quality, and clinical finishing makes him one of the most complete strikers in world football — and pairing him with Gyökeres gives Sweden a frontline that few nations can match.

Viktor Gyökeres — The Play-Off Hero

Arsenal’s Viktor Gyökeres is, quite literally, the reason Sweden are at this World Cup. His play-off heroics against Ukraine and Poland — scoring in five of those crucial matches — single-handedly dragged Sweden through qualification.

Now at Arsenal and continuing to score prolifically, Gyökeres arrives at the World Cup as one of the most in-form strikers in the entire field and a genuine Golden Boot contender.

Victor Lindelöf — The Captain

Aston Villa’s Victor Lindelöf captains this Sweden side from centre-back. His experience at the highest level of Premier League and Champions League football gives Sweden defensive leadership and composure that the rest of the backline can rely on.

Anthony Elanga — The Newcastle Pace Merchant

Newcastle United’s Anthony Elanga provides genuine width and pace on the wing — a direct outlet who can run in behind defences and stretch even the most disciplined backlines. His Premier League experience makes him a key component of Potter’s vertical, wide-stretching attacking approach.

Lucas Bergvall — The Tottenham Talent

Tottenham’s Lucas Bergvall represents Sweden’s exciting next generation — a technically gifted young midfielder who has impressed in the Premier League and gives Potter genuine creative options in central areas.

Sweden’s Group F Fixtures — FIFA World Cup 2026

Sweden have been drawn into 2026 FIFA World Cup Group F alongside the Netherlands, Japan, and Tunisia:

🇸🇪 Sweden vs 🇹🇳 Tunisia — (Final Score: 7-1)  — June 15, 2026 | Monterrey, Mexico | 04:00 CET
🇳🇱 Netherlands vs 🇸🇪 Sweden — June 20, 2026 | Houston, Texas | 19:00 CET
🇯🇵 Japan vs 🇸🇪 Sweden — June 26, 2026 | Dallas, Texas | 01:00 CET

The opener against Tunisia in Monterrey is Sweden’s best opportunity for three points. The Netherlands match in Houston represents the group’s biggest test — facing one of Europe’s most in-form sides.

The final group game against Japan in Dallas, where the squad has already been training, could prove decisive for qualification to the Round of 32.

Sweden World Cup Records – The Best Finishes By Decade

Sweden has qualified for 13 World Cup tournaments up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Their historic overall tournament record stands at 19 wins, 13 draws, and 19 losses across 51 total matches.

Sweden’s World Cup History: Chasing the 1958 Heights

Sweden boast a proud World Cup history — their best finish came as hosts in 1958, when they reached the final before losing to a young Pelé’s Brazil. This will be Sweden’s 13th World Cup appearance, having missed the 2022 edition entirely.

With Isak and Gyökeres leading the line, and a squad packed with Premier League experience, Potter’s Sweden have the attacking quality to cause problems for any side in Group F — and a route back to the kind of relevance Swedish football enjoyed for decades.