Manager Graham Potter has officially named the 26-man squad that will represent Sweden at the 2026 World Cup, featuring some notable omissions and a few surprising inclusions.
Star players Dejan Kulusevski and Hugo Larsson, along with rising talent Roony Bardghji, have been left out of Potter's final selection for the 2026 World Cup, while, Allsvenskan players Elliot Stroud and Taha Ali have earned a spot on the plane.
Sweden Squad for the 2026 World Cup
- Goalkeepers: Kristoffer Nordfeldt, Viktor Johansson, Jacob Widell Zetterström
- Defenders: Daniel Svensson, Victor Nilsson Lindelöf, Isak Hien, Carl Starfelt, Elliot Stroud, Gustaf Lagerbielke, Gabriel Gudmundsson, Emil Holm, Hjalmar Ekdal, Erik Smith
- Midfielders/Forwarders: Taha Ali, Yasin Ayari, Lucas Bergvall, Anthony Elanga, Viktor Gyökeres, Jesper Karlström, Gustaf Nilsson, Benjamin Nygren, Mattias Svanberg, Besfort Zeneli, Alexander Isak, Alexander Bernhardsson, Ken Sema
Notable Absences Explained
With several high-profile players missing from the roster, the team management has provided explanations for their decisions.
Why was Dejan Kulusevski not selected?
The Tottenham Hotspur forward has been sidelined since suffering an injury in May 2025.
He missed the entire World Cup qualifying campaign for Sweden and has not featured for his club this season.
Why was Hugo Larsson left out?
Larsson has struggled for consistent playing time at Eintracht Frankfurt, with his season disrupted by minor injuries and illness, leading to him being in and out of the starting lineup.
Why is Roony Bardghji missing from the squad?
Despite recently winning a league title with FC Barcelona, Bardghji was not included.
Graham Potter described it as a difficult decision, emphasising that a player's club affiliation alone doesn't guarantee a spot in the national team.
Who is on the reserve list?
During the press conference announcing the squad, Graham Potter confirmed that Herman Johansson has been named as a reserve player for the Swedish team.
