Sweden at the 2026 World Cup: Gyökeres, Isak, and a Team That Almost Didn’t Make It
Sweden almost didn’t make it. After a dreadful qualifying campaign so bad that fans were opening booing their own manager out of a job, the Swedes arrived at the playoff stage needing a miracle. And then they found one in the form of Viktor Gyökeres.
Now they’re here. Graham Potter, who was appointed just five months before qualifying was complete has guided Sweden through the playoffs and into their first World Cup since 2018. He’s armed with two dangerous Premier League forwards. They have something to prove in this tournament and you can see it here in Dallas.
Starting this summer, Dallas Stadium becomes one of the most watched venues on Earth, hosting some of the biggest nations in world football. But who are these teams? What’s their story? And which ones are actually worth showing up for?
That’s what this series is for.
Big D Soccer is breaking down every national team coming to North Texas for the 2026 FIFA World Cup — their history, their best players, and our honest take on how far they’ll go. Consider it your cheat sheet for sounding smart at the watch party.
Why you need to watch
For starters, if Herman Johansson ends up being a late addition to the roster, Dallas fans have a third play to cheer for in these World Cup games (along with Haiti’s Deedson and Croatia’s Petar Musa).
Outside of that nugget, Sweden’s attack possesses two of the most lethal strikers in the game right now, both who play in the Premier League. Viktor Gyökeres just won the Premier League with Arsenal and finished as the club’s top scorer across all competitions with 19 goals. Then you add in Liverpool’s Alexander Isak, and you have an attack that should be very good.
How they got here
Barely. And in some ways, comically.
Sweden made history by qualifying for the 2026 World Cup without winning a single game in their European qualifying group. Yet, with the way UEFA’s system works, they earned a UEFA playoff spot and Gyökeres Took over with a hat trick over Ukraine. They then beat Poland in a tense final at home to seal it.
Hey, they won when it mattered, even if it looked ugly most of the way through.
World Cup History
Sweden’s World Cup history is longer and more decorated than most casual fans realize. They’ve appeared in 13 World Cups, finishing as runners-up in 1958 when they hosted the tournament. The last time the tournament was in North America, in 1994, they finished in third place. Their most recent finish was a quarterfinal run at the 2018 tournament in Russia.
Players to Watch
💛💙 Viktor Gyökeres — Forward, Arsenal - If you are looking for the guy that got Sweden to this World Cup, look no further than to this Arsenal striker. Gyökeres has 32 caps and 19 international goals for Sweden, including a hat trick in the final stages of qualifying over Ukraine. If he has his moment in this tournament like we saw in the Premier League this season, Sweden will do very well.
💛💙 Alexander Isak — Forward, Liverpool - Before his injury-disrupted season, Isak scored 54 goals in 86 Premier League games for Newcastle. Some would classify that as elite. Sweden coach Graham Potter brought Isak into the squad knowing this World Cup comes at a pivotal time for Isak, where he has a chance to rebuild his confidence. If he finds his form, Sweden will be genuinely dangerous.
💛💙 Herman Johansson — FB, FC Dallas - The Dallas fullback was a late addition to the roster. Johansson was added over the weekend after an injury to Emil Holmes. Johansson has appeared in 14 matches for FC Dallas.
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Kickoff (CT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 14 | 🇹🇳 vs. Tunisia | Monterrey Stadium — Monterrey, Mexico | 9:00 PM |
| June 20 | 🇳🇱 vs. Netherlands | Houston Stadium — Houston, TX | 12:00 PM |
| ⭐ June 25 | 🇯🇵 vs. Japan | Dallas Stadium — Arlington, TX | 6:00 PM |
Projected finish
If they survive the Group Stage, which is not a guarantee, it will all come down to who they land in the Knockout Round. In my mind, there is either a painful exit in the Group Stage due to poor results, or a solid run to the Round of 16. I’d like to think the latter will be the case.
BDS Projected Finish: Round of 16
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