Sweden entered the 2026 World Cup qualification cycle with one of Europe’s most exciting attacking line-ups. With Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyökeres, Anthony Elanga, and Dejan Kulusevski leading the front line, expectations were sky-high. On paper, Sweden looked like a side destined for an automatic spot at the finals.

Instead, the reality has been far more disappointing.

After four qualifying matches, Sweden sit bottom of their group, behind Slovenia, Kosovo, and Switzerland. They have yet to win a game, and automatic qualification is no longer possible.

And so, the nation turns to its newly appointed manager Graham Potter, hoping he can deliver a remarkable turnaround.

How Did Sweden’s Qualification Campaign Collapse?

Following a string of poor performances, Sweden dismissed head coach Jon Dahl Tomasson in October, less than two years after appointing him as the country’s first foreign manager.

Despite having elite attackers who transferred for a combined £180m during the summer window, Sweden’s final three qualifiers under Tomasson all ended in defeat—twice against Kosovo and once against Switzerland. Worryingly, the team failed to score in any of those games.

“This is one of Sweden’s best teams, but the results are some of the worst,” Swedish football journalist Daniel Kristoffersson told BBC Sport.

The decline has been rapid and stark. Under Tomasson in 2024, the team enjoyed success in the Nations League, winning promotion to the competition’s second tier with Gyökeres scoring 10 goals and Isak adding five. But 2025 brought a dramatic downturn in form, with just one goal between the pair so far this year.

Former Sweden and Leicester defender Pontus Kåmark believes the problem went far beyond individual performances.

“The players are not bad collectively, but we were underperforming as a collective massively,” he said.
“There were wide gaps in midfield, the defence was exposed, and even lower-ranked opponents created too many chances.”

Kåmark added that Tomasson’s reluctance to change tactics contributed to the slide.

“He was maybe a bit stubborn. When it has gone too far, you need to reset and start over.”

And after the 2–0 defeat to Kosovo, Sweden did exactly that.

Potter Returns — A Manager ‘Almost One of Our Own’

When news of Tomasson’s dismissal broke, Graham Potter happened to be at home in Sweden, speaking to local outlet Fotbollskanalen.

“I love the country and I love Swedish football,” he said in that interview. Four days later, he was named Sweden’s new head coach.

Potter’s coaching résumé includes spells at Swansea, Brighton, Chelsea, and West Ham. But perhaps most importantly, he spent seven transformative years with Östersunds FK, guiding them from Sweden’s fourth tier to the top division and winning the Svenska Cupen in 2017.

His connection to Sweden is deep enough that some joke he is “half Swedish”.

Kåmark agrees:

“He is very likeable, he speaks Swedish, and he is almost one of our own. He will get more time than most foreign managers.”

Potter’s strength, according to those who know him, lies in his ability to build collective structure and unity—precisely what Sweden currently lack.

“You need a collective way of playing, which Potter understands. He is always adapting and innovating.”

Kåmark points to the famous 2018 Europa League win over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium as proof of Potter’s tactical capability.

Can Sweden Still Reach the 2026 World Cup?

Yes — but the path is narrow.

1. Finish Second in the Group (Unlikely but Possible)

Sweden must beat both Switzerland and Slovenia this month and hope Kosovo fail to gain another point. It’s mathematically possible but no longer realistic.

2. Nations League Route (The Most Promising Option)

Sweden earned promotion in last season’s Nations League, placing them in a strong position to secure one of four play-off spots reserved for the best-performing Nations League sides not already qualified.

If they secure that spot, they face a three-match knockout run — win all three, and they are World Cup-bound.

“There is hope,” Kåmark said.
“This Nations League route is our lucky ticket.”

And if Potter succeeds?

“If he wins three games and takes us to the World Cup, he will be a god.”

Even if he falls short, many believe Potter will be given time to reshape the national identity.

A Nation Hoping for Revival

Sweden’s squad remains stacked with top-level talent. The question now is whether Graham Potter can turn an individually gifted team into a cohesive, resilient unit — and fast.

His first test comes on Saturday away to Switzerland. It may not decide the group, but it could mark the beginning of Sweden’s fightback.