Sweden National Team Prepares for 2026 World Cup After Play-Off Triumph
Graham Potter’s Sweden national team is gearing up for the 2026 World Cup this summer, having successfully qualified through the play-offs. After missing out on automatic qualification, Sweden secured their spot by defeating Ukraine and Poland, winning 3-1 and 3-2 respectively, with Viktor Gyokeres scoring four goals in these crucial matches.
The Scandinavian team has been drawn into Group F, where they will face Tunisia, The Netherlands, and Japan in their quest to advance to the knockout stage.
As leagues across Europe wind down, national teams are finalizing their rosters in preparation for heading to North America next month. The Sweden national team’s official website has announced Potter’s finalized squad for the World Cup, which notably includes two former Red Devils.
Anthony Elanga and Victor Lindelof Included in Sweden World Cup Squad
In addition to stars like Gyokeres and Alexander Isak, Potter has called up Aston Villa’s Victor Lindelof and Newcastle United’s Anthony Elanga. Speaking about his selections, Potter stated, “I have chosen a group that can stand strong together and in which the players get the best out of each other.”
He went on to address the unique challenges of championship play: “A championship is something different from an ordinary gathering; we are faced with other challenges over time that we need to handle together. And we build that capacity with the right mix of players, where everyone matters.”
Potter insisted that he explored every option before finalizing the squad, stating, “We have turned and turned every stone and investigated the possibilities. I have carefully considered the situation before making this decision, which was very tough. The squad has now been selected, and we are looking forward to starting our preparations. We are going into this championship with a focus on winning the next match we have ahead of us.”
Both Lindelof and Elanga have experienced debut seasons with their new clubs, with Lindelof joining Aston Villa on a free transfer last summer following his departure from Old Trafford, while Elanga made the switch from Nottingham Forest to St James’ Park.