Sweden have parted ways with manager Jon Dahl Tomasson following a disappointing start to their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign, leaving the team at the bottom of Group B.

Published: 14 October 2025

Sweden’s men’s national football team have sacked coach Jon Dahl Tomasson after a string of poor results in the 2026 FIFA World Cup European qualifiers. The former Blackburn Rovers manager leaves Sweden at the bottom of Group B, having earned just one point from four games.

Struggles in Qualifying

Sweden’s qualification campaign began with a 1-0 defeat to Kosovo on Monday. The team also lost to Switzerland and drew with Slovenia in the opening three group matches. Despite boasting a talented forward line, including Liverpool striker Alexander Isak and Arsenal forward Viktor Gyokeres, Sweden have struggled to convert talent into results.

Tomasson, who played for Newcastle United during his playing career, became Sweden’s first foreign national team coach in February 2024. His tenure was expected to usher in attacking football, but the results fell far short of expectations.

Swedish FA Statement

Simon Astrom, chairman of the Swedish Football Association (SvFF), explained the rationale behind the decision:

“The decision is based on the fact the men’s national team has not delivered the results we hoped for.
There is still a chance of a play-off in March and our responsibility is to ensure we have as optimal conditions as possible to reach a World Cup play-off. In this, we assess that a new leadership is required in the form of a new coach.”

Remaining Fixtures and Play-Off Hopes

Sweden will travel to face Switzerland and then host Slovenia in their final two qualifying matches. Although the team is currently bottom of the group, their 2024-25 UEFA Nations League performance provides a potential pathway to the play-offs. Sweden topped their Nations League group, giving them a chance to qualify even without finishing in the top two of Group B.

Currently, Wales, Romania, Sweden, and Northern Ireland hold the Nations League play-off spots. The World Cup European qualifying system will see 12 group winners automatically progress, with the runners-up and the four best Nations League group winners advancing to play-offs for the remaining four spots.

Analysis: What Went Wrong?

Daniel Kristoffersson, a football reporter for Sportbladet, criticized Tomasson’s tactics and approach:

“Everything has gone wrong. He has implemented a system and tactics that we do not have the players for. We have lost to Kosovo twice without scoring a goal, despite world-class players like Viktor Gyokeres and Alexander Isak.
He made players like Lucas Bergvall, Gyokeres, and Isak look like Sunday League footballers. He forgot what Sweden stands for — being solid defensively.”

Kristoffersson added that Tomasson promised attacking, possession-based football but neglected defensive solidity, a hallmark of traditional Swedish teams. Comparisons were made to Sweden’s 2004 Euro quarter-final team, which included legends like Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Henrik Larsson, and Freddie Ljungberg.

Legacy and Next Steps

Tomasson’s tenure, which began with optimism, ends amid widespread criticism of tactics and results. Sweden now face a crucial period to secure a play-off spot with a new manager, aiming to blend their talented squad with a return to defensive resilience.