Country profile
Sweden
Kingdom of Sweden
Key facts
Capital
Stockholm
Population
10,500,000
Confederation
UEFA
FIFA code
SWE
Overview
Sweden is the largest of the Nordic nations, a long ribbon of forest, lakes and Baltic coastline stretching from Skåne in the south to the Arctic reaches of Lapland. A country of around ten million, it pairs a global reputation for design, social welfare and innovation with a deep, understated sporting fierceness.
Football is woven into Swedish life from the local idrottsförening to packed national-team nights. The game here is built on collective discipline, physicality and a knack for producing world-class individuals who shine abroad.
From Liedholm to Larsson, Zlatan to Isak, Sweden has always exported talent while clinging proudly to its team-first identity.
Football culture
Football is the nation's most popular sport, governed by a strong grassroots club system that feeds top European leagues. Swedes cherish their national team's tournament tradition and supporter culture of yellow shirts and tifo displays. The women's game is equally revered, with Sweden a perennial global force.
World Cup history
Sweden's golden moment came as hosts in 1958, finishing runners-up to Brazil and a teenage Pelé. They reached the semi-finals again in 1994, taking third place, and the round of 16 in 2018. Failing to qualify for 2022 stung a proud footballing nation.
Location
Did you know
- Sweden reached the 1958 World Cup final on home soil — their best-ever result.
- Zlatan Ibrahimović is the nation's all-time top scorer with 62 goals.
- Sweden knocked out reigning champions Italy en route to Russia 2018.
- The country produces more pop music exports per capita than almost anywhere on earth.
- Allsvenskan is one of the world's oldest professional football leagues.
From Wikipedia
Kingdom of Sweden fields one of the 48 national teams contesting the 2026 FIFA World Cup across the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Source: Wikipedia →