Sweden's World Cup Hanging by a Thread After Crushing Defeat
The World Cup aspirations of Premier League strikers Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres are on the verge of collapse following Sweden's damaging 3-1 defeat against Switzerland on Saturday evening. The loss leaves the Scandinavian nation rooted to the bottom of their World Cup qualification group with just one match remaining, putting their participation in next summer's tournament in North America in serious doubt.
A Dire Qualification Campaign
Under the guidance of new manager Graham Potter, the former Chelsea and Brighton boss, Sweden's campaign has been nothing short of disastrous. The team has managed to secure a mere one point from their first nine qualification games. This latest setback against Switzerland means they head into their final group match against Slovenia on Tuesday with no possibility of securing an automatic qualification spot or even a second-place play-off position through the conventional route.
The situation is particularly galling given the attacking talent at their disposal. Alexander Isak completed a British record £125 million move to Liverpool from Newcastle on deadline day, while Viktor Gyokeres secured a high-profile transfer to Arsenal from Sporting CP. Despite this firepower, the national team has consistently underperformed.
The Nations League Lifeline
All is not completely lost for the Swedish squad. There remains one final, narrow pathway to the World Cup via the UEFA Nations League. Sweden earned promotion in the tournament under previous manager Jon Dahl Tomasson, which has secured them a place in the World Cup play-offs. They qualify as one of the four best-performing Nations League teams who did not secure a play-off spot through the regular World Cup qualifying process.
This complex route represents their last hope, but the team's current form makes even this backup plan appear precarious. The failure in standard qualification is a significant setback for a nation with Sweden's footballing pedigree.
Player Form and Fitness Concerns
Compounding the national team's issues are the individual circumstances of their star attackers. Viktor Gyokeres is missing the current international break entirely due to a muscle injury that also forced him to miss Arsenal's recent 2-2 draw with Sunderland. Despite this setback, the 27-year-old has enjoyed a strong start to his Arsenal career, scoring four goals in ten Premier League appearances and adding two more in the Champions League.
Alexander Isak, meanwhile, is still building up his fitness after a disrupted pre-season. The Liverpool forward came on as a substitute against Switzerland but was unable to influence the outcome. Since his record-breaking move to Anfield, Isak has struggled to make an immediate impact, with his only goal so far coming in the Carabao Cup as he continues to search for his first Premier League strike for his new club.
Should Sweden ultimately fail to qualify for the World Cup, it would represent a bitter personal disappointment for both players who aspire to represent their country on the global stage. From a club perspective, however, Arsenal and Liverpool might view the situation more positively, as their prized assets would benefit from a full summer of rest and preparation for the 2026/27 Premier League campaign rather than competing in North America.
