Sweden faces a critical opportunity to secure their first victory in Group B of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers as they take on Slovenia at home tomorrow evening. While a playoff position has already been secured, the match holds significant implications for the Swedish team, which has struggled in the group thus far.
Graham Potter, who is looking for his first win as Sweden’s head coach, is coming off a disappointing 4-1 defeat against Switzerland, marked by a second-half collapse. However, the stakes are higher than they may appear, as nine players in the current squad are carrying yellow cards. If any of these players receive another yellow against Slovenia, they will be suspended for the crucial playoff semi-final in March. Additionally, a straight red card could result in varying match bans depending on the nature of the offense.
Complicating matters, forward Anthony Elanga has departed the squad for personal reasons, and Emil Holm is unavailable due to a groin injury sustained in the match against Switzerland. Their absences add to the challenges already faced by Potter, whose squad has seen other players, including Lucas Bergvall and Hugo Larsson, leave recently. Goalkeeper Viktor Johansson is also a concern, having not trained on the day of this report due to an undisclosed issue. Potter remains hopeful, stating, “He’s recovering today. We’ll see how he reacts and then make the decision that’s best for us.”
The nine players currently on yellow cards include Emil Krafth, Gustaf Lagerbielke, Isak Hien, Alexander Isak, Alexander Bernhardsson, Emil Forsberg, Yasin Ayari, and Jesper Karlstrom, representing a significant risk for the coach as he weighs his lineup.
“As we recover from the game on Saturday, I need to decide which players can play,” Potter remarked, emphasizing the balance he must strike between securing a positive result tomorrow and ensuring player availability for the upcoming playoff.
Sweden has experienced a challenging series of matches, having lost all four games since initially drawing with Slovenia in September. With a chance to end their qualifying campaign on a high note, the team is eager to turn the tide against Slovenia. Given their past performance and current circumstances, the encounter promises to be a test of both strategy and resilience for the Blagult.