Full Breakdown
Sweden Finalizes 26-Man World Cup Squad
5/13/2026, 9:55:09 PM
Sweden Finalizes 26-Man World Cup Squad
Sweden coach Graham Potter announced a 26-man roster on 12 May 2026. Liverpool striker Alexander Isak and Arsenal forward Viktor Gyökeres headline the squad, with Aston Villa defender Victor Lindelöf named captain. The list also includes Newcastle winger Anthony Elanga, midfielders Yasin Ayari (Brighton) and Lucas Bergvall (Tottenham), and goalkeepers Viktor Johansson (Stoke) and Jacob Widell Zetterström (Derby). Eleven players are based in the English Premier League.
Qualification Path
Sweden finished bottom of its UEFA qualifying group with two points, but a strong Nations League performance secured a playoff spot. Wins over Ukraine and Poland in the playoffs earned the team a place in Group F for the 2026 World Cup.
Player Profiles
Isak joined Liverpool in September 2025 for a £125 million record but has only 13 starts and nine substitute appearances, with no full 90 minutes. Gyökeres scored 14 Premier League goals for Arsenal and added a hat-trick and a last-minute winner in the playoffs. Lindelöf, Aston Villa’s centre-back, captains Sweden. The squad also includes other Premier League players from Stoke, Derby, Burnley and Leeds.
Official Statements
Potter noted that recovering from a long-term injury is a gradual process and that Sweden must get Isak to peak form. He said the choice to leave Kulusevski out was extremely difficult because of the player’s rehab timeline, and he cited competition for places as the reason for omitting Larsson and Bardghji, stressing squad cohesion.
Criticism & Opposition
Swedish media and fans described Kulusevski’s omission as a heartbreaking loss for the national team. A source close to Hugo Larsson said he felt devastated by his exclusion. Observers also questioned selecting an injury-prone Isak given his limited minutes at Liverpool.
Conflicting Reports
Sources report either eight or thirteen league starts for Isak, but agree he has not completed a full match. Kulusevski’s injury timeline varies slightly across reports, though all confirm he has not played competitively for over a year.
Verbatim Quotes
- “When you've had a long-term injury, it is never a straight road back; there is often one step forward and one step back,” — Graham Potter
- “Our challenge is to get Alex [Isak] into peak form because when he is at his best, he is a world-class player.” — Graham Potter
- “It was a difficult gut decision, but it was the right thing for us and for him,” — Graham Potter
- “Dejan Kulusevski’s World Cup Dream Ends Before It Begins The most painful absence in Sweden’s squad is Dejan Kulusevski, and it was always going to come down to a race against time — one the Tottenham forward ultimately lost.” — Graham Potter
- “Absolutely Devastated” — Source close to Hugo Larsson
Upcoming Fixtures
Sweden will face Norway and Greece in friendlies before opening the World Cup against Tunisia in Monterrey on 14 June. Group F continues with the Netherlands on 20 June in Houston and Japan on 25 June in Arlington.
