The Swedish national team failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup through the European qualifiers, with its fate sealed before the Tuesday match against Slovenia, which ended in a 1-1 draw. However, Sweden still has a chance to reach the tournament through an additional playoff.
By winning its Nations League group, Sweden secured a place in the supplementary playoff, a fact confirmed by UEFA after the final round of qualification. Even before the match, it was clear that the team’s focus would shift toward that opportunity.
When Liverpool forward Alexander Isak remained on the bench against Slovenia, it became evident that the decision was not due to injury concerns. The reason was the risk of suspension for accumulated yellow cards, which were reset after this match.
Had Isak played and received another booking, he would have missed the first leg of the home-and-away playoff. That would have been a significant blow for a team that dropped into the fourth seeding pot due to poor qualification results.
The playoff will feature sixteen teams, including twelve runners-up from qualification and four Nations League group winners, divided into four pots. Teams from the fourth pot will face the strongest opponents from the first and will play the return leg away. The eight winners of the opening ties will advance, and the four best teams will secure a place at the World Cup.
