Sweden World Cup 2026 squad: Graham Potter’s latest selection ahead of the World Cup qualifying play-offs

The prospective Sweden World Cup 2026 squad has been made, as Graham Potter has named his side for this month’s play-off matches.

Sweden are fighting for one of just four spots at the World Cup 2026 out of sixteen teams involved in the upcoming play-off games, with tournament squads shaping up.

Potter’s side will face Ukraine on March 26, then, if victorious, the winners of Poland vs Albania, to secure a place at this summer’s tournament.

Sweden finished bottom of their World Cup qualification group, accumulating just two points in six games against Slovenia, Kosovo and Switzerland.

In Potter’s first game at the helm, his side suffered a 4-1 loss to group leaders Switzerland, followed by a 1-1 draw against Slovenia.

Sweden’s last World Cup appearance came in 2018, topping their group en route to the quarter-finals before being sent home in a 2-0 defeat to England.

The nation’s last appearance at the Euros came in 2021, which saw Sweden fall in the 121st minute against Ukraine in the Round of 16.

Squad

Sweden World Cup 2026 squad: The March selection

• GK: Melker Ellborg (Sunderland)
• GK: Kristoffer Nordfeldt (AIK)
• GK: Noel Törnqvist (Como)
• DF: Gabriel Gudmundsson (Fiorentina)
• DF: Isak Hien (Atalanta)
• DF: Herman Johansson (FC Dallas)
• DF: Gustaf Lagerbielke (Sporting Braga)
• DF: Victor Nilsson Lindelöf (Aston Villa)
• DF: Carl Starfelt (Celta Vigo)
• DF: Elliot Stroud (Mjallby AIF)
• DF: Daniel Svensson (Borussia Dortmund)
• MF: Benjamin Nygren (Celtic)
• MF: Eric Smith (FC St. Pauli)
• MF: Mattias Svanberg (VfL Wolfsburg)
• MF: Williot Swedberg (Celta Vigo)
• MF: Besfort Zeneli (IF Elfsborg)
• MF: Jesper Karlström (Udinese)
• MF: Hugo Larsson (Eintracht Frankfurt)
• MF: Lucas Bergvall (Tottenham Hotspur)
• MF: Yasin Ayari (Brighton and Hove Albion)
• FW: Taha Ali (Malmo FF)
• FW: Roony Bardghji (Barcelona)
• FW: Anthony Elanga (Newcastle United)
• FW: Viktor Gyökeres (Arsenal)
• FW: Gustav Lundgren (GAIS)
• FW: Gustaf Nilsson (Club Brugge)

Fixtures and results

Fixtures

• March 26: Ukraine vs Sweden, Stadion Wojska Polskiego w Warszawie, Warsaw, Poland

Recent results

• November 18, 2025: Sweden 1-1 Slovenia, Strawberry Arena, Solna, Sweden
• November 15, 2025: Switzerland 4-1 Sweden, Stade de Geneve, Geneva, Switzerland
• October 13, 2025: Sweden 0-1 Kosovo, Strawberry Arena, Solna, Sweden
• October 10, 2025: Sweden 0-2 Switzerland, Strawberry Arena, Solna, Sweden
• September 8, 2025: Kosoko 2-0 Sweden, Stadiumi Fadil Vokrri, Prishtine, Kosovo
• September 5, 2025: Slovenia 2-2 Sweden, Stozice Stadium, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Manager

Who is Sweden's manager?

Graham Potter is widely known for his managerial success with Brighton, where he led the club to its record top-flight points tally during his first season at the helm.

The Englishman went on to equal this record the following year, then broke it again in his third season with 51 points and a ninth-placed Premier League finish for the Seagulls.

Potter went on to manage Chelsea for 31 games in what many labelled a failure, followed by a similarly short stint with West Ham, before taking the Sweden job in October 2025.

Sweden's Star Player

Who is Sweden's star player?

Viktor Gyokeres is yet to hit the staggering heights of his 2024/25 season with Sporting, but with his new team sat atop the Premier League, it’s hard to imagine him caring.

The 27-year-old, who ranked 13th in FourFourTwo’s list of the best strikers in the world, is Arsenal’s top goalscorer domestically and their second-highest goalscorer in Europe.

Despite his underwhelming performances in Sweden’s World Cup qualification games, failing to score in all four of his matches, the striker is sure to be the difference-maker if his nation wants to secure a place in this summer’s tournament.

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