Sweden head coach Graham Potter announced his 26-man squad for the FIFA World Cup 2026 on May 12, making some bold calls ahead of the tournament in North America this summer. The Sweden squad is headlined by Premier League forwards Viktor Gyökeres (Arsenal) and Alexander Isak (Liverpool), with captain Victor Lindelöf leading the group.
But it’s the names left out that have generated the biggest conversation. From a heartbreaking injury omission to a surprise snub of a Barcelona attacker, here are the four biggest talking points from Sweden’s World Cup squad announcement.
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.
Kulusevski has not played a competitive match since May 2025, when an innocuous challenge with Crystal Palace’s Marc Guéhi resulted in a serious right patella injury requiring surgery. What was initially expected to be a return around December 2025 turned into a prolonged nightmare, with setbacks, additional procedures, and no clear timeline ever materialising through the 2025-26 season.
Potter acknowledged how difficult the call was, saying it was “a very, very difficult decision in terms of where he has been, what he’s done over the last year, where he’s at in terms of his rehab with four and a half weeks to go to that first game.” The coach added that once the tournament starts, there simply isn’t the environment to build a player back up to the required intensity.
For Kulusevski, who visited Sweden’s training camp in March and was visibly still limping — later clarified as the result of a minor intervention — this will sting deeply. At 26, he would have been one of Sweden’s most important creative players in North America. Instead, he watches from the sidelines as the squad he helped build heads to the biggest stage.
Hugo Larsson Left “Absolutely Devastated” After Missing Out
If Kulusevski’s absence was expected, Hugo Larsson’s omission is the one that has genuinely shocked Swedish football.
The Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder had been a regular in Potter’s squads throughout the qualifying campaign and was part of the setup for the playoff matches against Ukraine and Poland in March. However, Larsson did not play a single minute across those two crucial games, and his last competitive appearance for Sweden came in the 2-0 qualifying loss to Kosovo back in September 2025, after which he missed several matches due to a muscle injury.
Swedish outlet Fotbollskanalen reported that Larsson received a phone call informing him he was not in the squad, with an insider saying “he is absolutely devastated. He’s been part of the squad the whole time, but now he won’t be there.”
At just 21, Larsson has time on his side — but missing a World Cup at the peak of your early development years, especially when you were in the frame throughout, is a blow that lingers. His injury troubles through the season and the fact that Potter chose not to use him even when available in March suggest the coach had been leaning this way for some time.
Roony Bardghji’s Barcelona Breakthrough Wasn’t Enough
This is the omission that has made the biggest noise internationally, and for good reason. Roony Bardghji, the 20-year-old Barcelona winger, has been left out of the World Cup squad despite making 26 appearances and scoring two goals in his debut season at Camp Nou.
But the context explains the decision. Bardghji spent much of the season behind Lamine Yamal in Barcelona’s pecking order, limiting his game time and development rhythm at senior international level. Potter had already excluded him from the matchday squad for the decisive playoff final against Poland in March, explaining at the time that “Bardghji’s position was sold out” but that “everyone knows his qualities.”
The message from Sweden’s coaching staff is clear — talent alone doesn’t guarantee selection when competition for places is this fierce. Bardghji will continue with Sweden’s Under-21 side, keeping him in the national setup while he builds the consistency and minutes that would make his senior case undeniable.
Alongside Bardghji, another Spain-based attacker in Williot Swedberg (Celta Vigo) also missed the cut, despite both generating significant search interest following the announcement. For Swedish fans, the frustration is understandable — Bardghji represents the future, and the World Cup felt like the perfect stage for his introduction. Potter, though, has prioritised cohesion over potential.
Gyökeres and Isak Headline a Premier League-Heavy Attack — But Can They Deliver Together?
With the absentees dominating the headlines, it’s easy to overlook what Sweden do have — and the attacking firepower at Potter’s disposal is genuinely elite by Swedish standards.
Viktor Gyökeres arrives at the World Cup off the back of a season where he has scored 14 Premier League goals for Arsenal and is preparing for the Champions League final against Gyökeres’ Arsenal on May 30 in Budapest. He was the hero of qualification, scoring a hat-trick against Ukraine in the playoff semi-final and netting the dramatic 88th-minute winner against Poland that sealed Sweden’s place.
Alexander Isak, meanwhile, joined Liverpool for a British-record £125 million last summer. His debut season at Anfield has been a mixed experience — early adaptation struggles, a groin injury, and Liverpool’s wider instability under Arne Slot meant Isak’s integration was slower than expected. But his quality is undeniable, and a World Cup could be exactly the reset both player and fans need.
The question for Potter is whether he can get both firing simultaneously. Sweden have rarely had two forwards of this calibre available at once, and how they’re deployed — particularly in a tough Group F featuring Netherlands, Japan, and Tunisia — could define Sweden’s tournament.
Behind them, 20-year-old Lucas Bergvall (Tottenham) is expected to anchor the midfield. The youngster played a key role in the playoff qualification run and Potter is reportedly building his midfield setup around the Spurs man. Anthony Elanga (Newcastle), Besfort Zeneli (Elfsborg), and Benjamin Nygren (Celtic) provide further attacking depth.
Sweden’s Full 26-Man Squad for FIFA World Cup 2026:
Goalkeepers: Viktor Johansson (Stoke City), Jacob Widell Zetterström (Derby County), Kristoffer Nordfeldt (AIK)
Defenders: Victor Lindelöf (Aston Villa), Hjalmar Ekdal (Burnley), Isak Hien (Atalanta), Carl Starfelt (Celta de Vigo), Gabriel Gudmundsson (Leeds United), Daniel Svensson (Borussia Dortmund), Gustaf Lagerbielke (SC Braga), Elliot Stroud (Mjällby AIF), Emil Holm (Bologna), Eric Smith (St. Pauli)
Midfielders: Yasin Ayari (Brighton), Lucas Bergvall (Tottenham), Jesper Karlström (Udinese), Ken Sema, Mattias Svanberg, Besfort Zeneli (Elfsborg)
Forwards: Taha Ali (Malmö FF), Alexander Bernhardsson, Anthony Elanga (Newcastle), Viktor Gyökeres (Arsenal), Alexander Isak (Liverpool), Gustaf Nilsson (Club Brugge), Benjamin Nygren (Celtic)
Group F Schedule:
- June 14: Sweden vs Tunisia — Estadio BBVA, Monterrey, Mexico
- June 20: Netherlands vs Sweden — NRG Stadium, Houston, USA
- June 25: Japan vs Sweden — AT&T Stadium, Arlington, USA
With the tournament weeks away, here’s everything you need to know about FIFA World Cup 2026 broadcasting rights in every country.
Fans heading to North America can check whether FIFA World Cup 2026 tickets are still available.
