Nation dossier · Group F · Out in the Round of 32
Sweden
Kingdom of Sweden
Latest France 3–0 Sweden · Round of 32
Knocked out by France · Match 77
Title probability
0.0%
as of 2026-07-20
Overview
Sweden arrive at a crossroads of generations. After the painful failure to reach Qatar 2022 and a stuttering road since, the Blågult have rebuilt around a frightening attacking spine. The forward line — anchored by Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyökeres — is arguably among the most lethal in Europe, and qualification was driven by that firepower.
The challenge remains balance. With Zlatan long gone and stalwarts like Forsberg in the twilight, Sweden are blending elite Premier League attackers with a defence still searching for cohesion. Reaching a first World Cup since 2018 is itself a statement of revival.
Expectations are cautious but real: a country used to punching above its weight believes this golden crop of strikers can drag them deep into the knockout rounds.
Capital
Stockholm
Population
10,551,707
Confederation
UEFA
FIFA code
SWE
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 →Squad
- 13caps
Jacob Widell Zetterström
Derby County
- 1212caps
Viktor Johansson
Stoke City · Rising goalkeeping prospect
- 2321caps
Kristoffer Nordfeldt
AIK · Veteran goalkeeper, plays in Sweden
- 211caps
Gustaf Lagerbielke
Braga
- 376caps
Victor Nilsson-Lindelöf
Aston Villa · Captain, most-capped in squad
- 429caps
Isak Hien
Atalanta · Athletic ball-winning centre-back
- 524caps
Gabriel Gudmundsson
Leeds United · Energetic overlapping full-back
- 63caps
Herman Johansson
FC Dallas · Late call-up replacing Emil Holm
- 813caps
Daniel Svensson
Borussia Dortmund · Versatile left-sided defender
- 1413caps
Hjalmar Ekdal
Burnley · No-nonsense central defender
- 1518caps
Carl Starfelt
Celta Vigo · Aerially dominant stopper
- 202caps
Eric Smith
FC St. Pauli
- 241caps
Elliot Stroud
Mjällby AIF
- 710caps
Lucas Bergvall
Tottenham Hotspur · Youngest player, rising talent
- 1333caps
Ken Sema
Pafos
- 1625caps
Jesper Karlström
Udinese
- 1821caps
Yasin Ayari
Brighton & Hove Albion · Tenacious young midfielder
- 1941caps
Mattias Svanberg
VfL Wolfsburg · Box-to-box engine
- 228caps
Besfort Zeneli
Union Saint-Gilloise
- 958caps
Alexander Isak
Liverpool · Star striker, 17 international goals
- 1011caps
Benjamin Nygren
Celtic
- 1130caps
Anthony Elanga
Newcastle United · Pacey winger, Premier League regular
- 1733caps
Viktor Gyökeres
Arsenal · Prolific scorer, 20 caps goals
- 2111caps
Alexander Bernhardsson
Holstein Kiel
- 2510caps
Gustaf Nilsson
Club Brugge
- 262caps
Taha Ali
Malmö FF
Model
as of 2026-07-20Exp. points
4.00
Proj. finish
24.5
Seed Elo
1740
Title-probability trajectory
Champion chance across the last 14 snapshots
Matches
History
1938
Fourth place
1950
Third place
1958
Runners-up
1974
Quarter-finals
1994
Third place
2018
Quarter-finals
Culture
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.
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.