Sweden are out of the 2026 World Cup after falling to a 3-0 defeat to France in their round of 32 clash.
After a 5-1 win over Tunisia in their opening game, hopes were high for Blagult’s chances at this tournament – but it’s been a far less impressive campaign since then.
A 5-1 loss to the Netherlands and a 1-1 draw with Japan saw Graham Potter’s men set-up a knock-out tie with France which they duly lost 3-0.
Sweden route to the final
As things stand, Sweden have perhaps the toughest opponent imaginable in the Round of 32, with France slated to play them if things remain as they are.
With Kylian Mbappe and Michael Olise possibly to come, it may not be worth mapping out too much of a route to the final for Blagult – but for argument’s sake, here’s how their route will look.
If they are able to win that game, Sweden will then play the winner of Germany vs Paraguay in the last 16, before probably facing the Netherlands or Morocco in the Quarter Final on July 9th. A win there would send them into the first semi-final on July 14th.
READ MORE: Get the latest Sweden World Cup 2026 outright odds here
Sweden World Cup 2026 Stats
Sweden key players for World Cup 2026
Sweden top World Cup Golden Boot contender: Viktor Gyokeres
- Key stat: Viktor Gyokeres has scored at a quicker rate than a goal per game for Sweden since 2023, finding the net 14 times in his last 13 appearances.
Viktor Gyokeres has scored 19 goals at the time of writing in his first Arsenal season but for Sweden he is even more prolific. Four goals in the two qualifying playoff games have taken the 27 year old’s international tally to 19 goals from 32 games and with Alexander Isak unlikely to be back to full fitness in time to really explode at the World Cup, Gyokeres will shoulder the goalscoring burden for Blagult this summer.
Sweden primary playmaker: Benjamin Nygren
- Key stat: Benjamin Nygren has created 55 chances in 34 Scottish Premiership matches for Celtic so far in 2025/26 for a total of five assists.
With Dejan Kulusevski unlikely to have recovered in time for the World Cup, Benjamin Nygren will hope to earn himself a starting spot under Graham Potter. The 24 year old assisted a goal in each of his side’s playoff victories and also has three international goals to his name in just nine starts. On the back of a productive campaign for Celtic in the Scottish Premiership, he is the best placed player to deputise for Kulusevski in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
Sweden card magnets & top tacklers: Gabriel Gudmundsson
- Key stat: Gabriel Gudmundsson has averaged two tackles per 90 minutes in the Premier League for Leeds United this season.
Gabriel Gudmundsson is almost guaranteed to start for Sweden this summer and he’ll bring his usual competitive style to the tournament. He was the only Blagult player in qualifying to manage more than double figures for tackles and he averages two per game in the Premier League for Leeds this season. In addition to that, the 27 year old has also picked up four yellow cards for the Whites.
Sweden rising star: Yasin Ayari
Sweden possess a handful of exciting young talents, but none in the squad are more eye-catching than Yasin Ayari. The 22-year-old is the youngest player in the squad and has enjoyed increasing playing time at Brighton over the past couple of years, scoring five goals for the Seagulls.
STAND-OUT STAT: Sweden are the only host nation to have ever finished a World Cup as runners-up. They were beaten by Brazil in the 1958 final.
Set-piece specialists
- Penalties: Viktor Gyokeres, Alexander Isak
- Free kicks: Mattias Svanberg, Anthony Elanga
- Corners: Mattias Svanberg, Anthony Elanga
Sweden tactical analysis and formation
Sweden team stats (average per game from qualifying):
- Corners: 4.9
- Shots on target: 3.2
- Shots on target conceded: 4.2
- Offsides: 1.2
Borussia Dortmund’s Daniel Svensson will expect to start on the right of the back four, with Leeds’ Gabriel Gudmundsson on the left, but several players have a good claim to start in the middle with the experienced Victor Lindelof.
It could be a young central midfielder pairing. Both Tottenham Hotspur’s Lucas Bergvall and Brighton & Hove Albion’s Yasin Ayari will be hoping to start, with Benjamin Nygren and Anthony Elanga on the flanks. Viktor Gyokeres will lead the line alongside Alexander Isak.
Get the latest Sweden World Cup goals, assists, shots, passes and tackle stats here
Sweden manager analysis
Graham Potter was the toast of Sweden in March after leading the team through a tricky playoff campaign and into the World Cup, despite confidence being at an all-time low following a poor qualifying group stage.
The former Chelsea and Brighton boss has worked in Sweden before with Ostersunds and will bring a defined philosophy that often leads to high chance creation and several turnovers per game. His side face some difficult fixtures in the group stages and if the playoff games are anything to go by, we could see plenty of goals at both ends in their matches.
The stats below are from his current spell in charge of the team.
| Coach | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Graham Potter | Sweden | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 17 | 19 | 37.5% |
Sweden World Cup FAQs
Have Sweden ever won the World Cup?
No, Sweden have never won the World Cup – although they’ve come closer than most. Blagult lost to Pele’s Brazil in the 1958 final on home soil.
Where did Sweden finish in the last World Cup?
Sweden failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup. The Scandinavians went into the playoffs after finishing second in their group behind Spain and beat Czechia in the semi-final before going down 2-0 to Poland in Chorzow.
Who will be Sweden captain at the World Cup?
Victor Lindelof has been Sweden captain since 2021, when he succeeded Andreas Granqvist. The 31 year old will retain the armband for this summer’s tournament.
Who is Sweden’s all-time top goalscorer at World Cups?
Kennet Andersson and Henrik Larsson share the record for most Sweden goals at the World Cup with five. All five of Andersson’s goals came at the 1994 World Cup, while Larsson scored one in that tournament, three in 2002 and a further one in 2006.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is Sweden’s all-time top goalscorer, but none of 62 goals for his country were scored at World Cups.
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