The World Cup will be played in the USA, Canada, and Mexico between June 11 and July 19. Sweden will play in Group F alongside the Netherlands, Japan, and Tunisia.
Expected Swedish Starting Lineup in the World Cup
The most likely Swedish starting lineup appears to be a 4-4-2 or a flexible 4-2-3-1/4-4-2 where Isak and Gyökeres play together. Potter has hinted that he sees Isak in an offensive role, likely alongside Gyökeres. However, this duo has a lot to prove, and in the final friendly against Greece, the collaboration between the stars didn't work out as well.
Expected Starting Lineup:
Goalkeeper: Viktor Johansson
Defenders: Emil Holm, Isak Hien, Victor Nilsson Lindelöf, Daniel Svensson
Midfielders: Anthony Elanga, Lucas Bergvall, Mattias Svanberg, Yasin Ayari
Forwards: Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyökeres
The attack is what makes Sweden interesting. Isak (Liverpool) and Gyökeres (Arsenal) give Potter two completely different but complementary threats: Isak's technique, movement, and calmness in depth combined with Gyökeres' power, pressing, and finishing. However, Isak has been injured for a longer period and only just returned to the Premier League before it ended, and Gyökeres' first season in Arsenal hasn't been the goal fest they had hoped for when he was signed from Sporting.
There are many question marks as the Swedish national team hasn't had time to gel. Will Elanga (Newcastle) start as a winger, joker, or pure striker? Will Bergvall (Spurs) get immediate trust in a World Cup? And who will be the first-choice goalkeeper? Both friendly matches against Norway and Greece, which served as dress rehearsals for the World Cup, left many questions unanswered. A joker who definitely got the crowd going and impressed with his dribbling was Malmö FF player Taha Ali. Even Isak expressed great admiration for Ali after the match against Greece, which ended 2-2.
Sweden's Entire World Cup Squad 2026
Goalkeepers
Player Club
Viktor Johansson Stoke City
Kristoffer Nordfeldt AIK
Jacob Widell Zetterström Derby County
Defenders
Player Club
Victor Nilsson Lindelöf Aston Villa
Isak Hien Atalanta
Gabriel Gudmundsson Leeds United
Carl Starfelt Celta Vigo
Emil Holm Juventus
Hjalmar Ekdal Burnley
Daniel Svensson Borussia Dortmund
Gustaf Lagerbielke Braga
Eric Smith FC St. Pauli
Elliot Stroud Mjällby AIF
Midfielders
Player Club
Mattias Svanberg VfL Wolfsburg
Jesper Karlström Udinese
Yasin Ayari Brighton & Hove Albion
Lucas Bergvall Tottenham Hotspur
Besfort Zeneli Union Saint-Gilloise
Forwards
Player Club
Alexander Isak Liverpool
Viktor Gyökeres Arsenal
Ken Sema Pafos
Anthony Elanga Newcastle United
Benjamin Nygren Celtic
Alexander Bernhardsson Holstein Kiel
Gustaf Nilsson Club Brugge
Taha Ali Malmö FF