Sweden's Squad for the 2026 World Cup Qualification Playoff
Sweden has selected a 26-player squad for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualification playoff. The team will face Ukraine in a semi-final match in Valencia on March 26. The winner of this mini-tournament, scheduled from March 26 to 31, will advance to World Cup Group F, joining the Netherlands, Japan, and Tunisia.
Sweden's Player Roster
Head coach Graham Potter has called up the following 26 players:
- Goalkeepers:
- Melker Ellborg (Sunderland)
- Kristoffer Nordfeldt (AIK)
- Noel Törnqvist (Como)
- Defenders:
- Gabriel Gudmundsson (Leeds)
- Isak Hien (Atalanta)
- Herman Johansson (Dallas)
- Victor Lindelöf (Aston Villa)
- Gustav Lagerbielke (Braga)
- Carl Starfelt (Celta Vigo)
- Elliot Stroud (Mjällby)
- Daniel Svensson (Borussia Dortmund)
- Midfielders and Forwards:
- Taah Ali (Malmö)
- Yasin Ayari (Brighton)
- Roony Bardghji (Barcelona)
- Lucas Bergvall (Tottenham)
- Anthony Elanga (Newcastle)
- Viktor Gyökeres (Arsenal)
- Jesper Karlström (Udinese)
- Hugo Larsson (Eintracht Frankfurt)
- Gustav Lundgren (GAIS)
- Gustav Nilsson (Club Brugge)
- Benjamin Nygren (Celtic)
- Eric Smith (St. Pauli)
- Mattias Svanberg (Wolfsburg)
- Besfort Zeneli (Union SG)
- Williot Swedberg (Celta Vigo)
Notably, key attackers Dejan Kulusevski and Alexander Isak will miss the matches due to injury. The Ukrainian squad, which includes three debutants—Ruslan Neshcheret, Borys Krushynskyi, and Matvii Ponomarenko—will begin its Nations League campaign with an away match against Hungary on September 25. This playoff represents a critical hurdle for both nations in their quest to reach the global tournament. Sweden will rely on its experienced core to compensate for its missing stars, while Ukraine's new faces aim to prove their mettle in a high-stakes encounter. Success here offers a coveted spot in the prestigious 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted across North America.
As both teams prepare for this crucial playoff, the Ukrainian squad has also been officially announced, showcasing new talent eager to make an impact on the international stage. To learn more about the players selected by Ukraine's coach Serhiy Rebrov and their upcoming challenges, check out the details in our article on the Ukrainian squad for the playoff.