STOCKHOLM — Head coach Graham Potter has announced Sweden's provisional 26-man squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

The selection features a major boost in attack with the return of Liverpool forward Alexander Isak. Isak, who missed Sweden's decisive UEFA playoff fixtures due to a broken leg, is fit in time to rejoin the national setup. He lines up alongside Arsenal's Viktor Gyökeres and Newcastle United winger Anthony Elanga in a highly competitive offensive unit.

However, the roster confirms the absence of Tottenham midfielder Dejan Kulusevski. The 26-year-old has been out of competitive action since last May following major knee surgery and subsequent rehabilitation setbacks. Potter also left out Barcelona prospect Roony Bardghji and Celta Vigo's Williot Swedberg. Full-back Herman Johansson will travel with the team as a 27th reserve player for upcoming pre-tournament friendlies against Norway and Greece.

Sweden's Provisional 26-Man World Cup Squad

    •    Goalkeepers: Viktor Johansson, Gustaf Lagerbielke, Kristoffer Nordfeldt, Jacob Zetterström.

    •    Defenders: Hjalmar Ekdal, Gabriel Gudmundsson, Isak Hien, Victor Lindelöf, Eric Smith, Carl Starfelt, Daniel Svensson.

    •    Midfielders: Yasin Ayari, Lucas Bergvall, Jesper Karlström, Benjamin Nygren, Ken Sema, Elliot Stroud, Mattias Svanberg, Besfort Zeneli.

    •    Forwards: Taha Ali, Alexander Bernhardsson, Anthony Elanga, Viktor Gyökeres, Alexander Isak, Gustaf Nilsson.

Note: All team rosters remain provisional until FIFA publishes the finalized lists on June 2.

Tactical Shifts on the Road to Qualification

Sweden's qualification campaign required a significant mid-stream adjustment. The team began their group stage under Jon Dahl Tomasson, but a poor start consisting of three defeats and a draw left them at the bottom of Group B and led to a managerial change.

The Swedish Football Association turned to Graham Potter, who previously built his managerial reputation in the country by guiding Östersunds from the lower tiers to top-flight and European prominence. While Potter's side initially struggled to find their footing in the final group games, Sweden's previous performance in the UEFA Nations League granted them a second chance via the European playoff brackets.

During the playoffs, Gyökeres proved crucial, scoring a hat-trick against Ukraine in the opening match and netting the decisive goal in a 3-2 victory over Poland. The wins secured Sweden’s place in their 13th World Cup finals after missing out on the 2022 tournament in Qatar.

Sweden will compete in Group F, starting their tournament on June 14 against Tunisia at the Monterrey Stadium. They will follow with matches against the Netherlands on June 20 in Houston and Japan on June 25 in Dallas.

The Blågult finalize their 26-man roster for North America, welcoming back key attacking options while navigating notable injury absences.