Sweden World Cup 2026 Squad — All 26 Players Named by Graham Potter

Graham Potter's remarkable turnaround

When Jon Dahl Tomasson was sacked in October 2025 after Sweden had taken just one point from four World Cup qualifiers, the country was in crisis. The national team had missed the 2022 World Cup entirely and looked in real danger of missing another. Then Graham Potter walked through the door. Within five months he had qualified Sweden for the World Cup, changed the entire atmosphere around the national team, and assembled a squad that looks genuinely competitive. The speed of that turnaround is one of the great management stories of this tournament.

Gyokeres and Isak — the most lethal front two at the tournament

Viktor Gyokeres at Arsenal and Alexander Isak at Liverpool. Two of the most dangerous strikers in European football right now, in the same squad, playing together for their country. Any team in the world would be delighted to have that front two. Gyokeres has been on a different level at Arsenal this season. Isak has been one of Liverpool's most important players. When both are fit and firing, Sweden have the goalscoring firepower to beat anyone. The rest of the squad is built to get the ball to those two men as quickly as possible.

Kulusevski left out — a blow for Sweden

Dejan Kulusevski has been out for over a year with a serious knee injury and Potter had to make the call that the tournament came too soon. He described it as a very, very difficult decision. Kulusevski is the kind of player who could have added a different dimension to Sweden's attacking play — pace, directness, and an ability to take on defenders that is genuinely rare. Without him Sweden are more predictable in wide areas. But with Gyokeres and Isak up front, they do not necessarily need unpredictability to cause problems.

Sweden's return to the World Cup

Sweden missed the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. That was a painful moment for a football nation with a proud history at the tournament. This time they are back, and they got here in dramatic fashion. Gyokeres scored the winner in the 88th minute against Poland in the playoff final to send Sweden to North America. That image — Gyokeres sprinting away from the Polish defenders — is already one of the defining moments of this qualification campaign. Sweden are back and they mean business.

Group F — Netherlands, Japan and Tunisia

Sweden are in Group F alongside Netherlands, Japan and Tunisia. The Netherlands are the most dangerous opponent in the group — a team with quality across the pitch and tournament experience. Japan have been underestimated before and paid the price. Tunisia will be organised and difficult to break down. But Sweden have Gyokeres and Isak. Against any team in this group, those two give Sweden a genuine chance of winning. Potter has built a side that is hard to break down and lethal on the counter — the perfect formula for this kind of draw.

Lucas Bergvall — the youngest in the squad

Lucas Bergvall is 20 years old and the youngest player in Sweden's World Cup 2026 squad. The Tottenham midfielder is one of the most exciting young talents in Scandinavian football. He has pace, technical quality and a football brain that belies his age. Bergvall's inclusion in the squad is not sentimental — he earned it. How much game time he gets in North America will depend on the results, but if Sweden need a spark off the bench in a tight knockout game he is exactly the kind of player who could provide it.

Who is in Sweden's World Cup 2026 squad?

Graham Potter named a 26-man squad for World Cup 2026. The squad includes Viktor Gyokeres and Alexander Isak up front, Victor Lindelof as captain, Lucas Bergvall and Yasin Ayari in midfield, and Viktor Johansson in goal. Dejan Kulusevski was the most notable omission due to a long-term knee injury.

Is Viktor Gyokeres in Sweden's World Cup 2026 squad?

Yes. Viktor Gyokeres is in Sweden's World Cup 2026 squad. He plays for Arsenal, is 27 years old, and scored the winner in the 88th minute against Poland in the playoff final to send Sweden to the World Cup.

Is Alexander Isak in Sweden's World Cup 2026 squad?

Yes. Alexander Isak is in Sweden's World Cup 2026 squad. He plays for Liverpool and is 26 years old. Together with Gyokeres they form one of the most dangerous attacking partnerships at the entire tournament.

Why was Kulusevski left out of Sweden's World Cup squad?

Dejan Kulusevski was left out of Sweden's World Cup 2026 squad after being out for over a year with a knee injury. Graham Potter said it was a very, very difficult decision but that the tournament came too soon for Kulusevski's recovery.

What group are Sweden in at World Cup 2026?

Sweden are in Group F at World Cup 2026 alongside Netherlands, Japan and Tunisia. With Gyokeres and Isak up front they have the quality to beat anyone in the group.

Who is Sweden's manager at World Cup 2026?

Graham Potter is Sweden's manager at World Cup 2026. He took over in October 2025 after Jon Dahl Tomasson was sacked, and qualified Sweden for the World Cup within five months — a remarkable turnaround.