SOCCER: Sweden’s 'great escape' complete as Potter clinches World Cup berth

Sweden capped a remarkable turnaround on Tuesday, booking their place at the 2026 World Cup with a thrilling 3-2 playoff victory over Poland, despite finishing last in their qualifying group without a single win. Manager Graham Potter masterminded what many are calling a stunning “great escape,” just five months after taking charge.

Viktor Gyokeres scored the decisive goal two minutes from time, completing Sweden’s comeback and sending the nation back to the World Cup after missing out in Qatar four years ago.

Sweden’s qualifying campaign had been far from promising. The team collected just two points from six Group B matches and suffered a friendly defeat to Luxembourg. In contrast, Italy—whose World Cup hopes ended in a playoff loss to Bosnia on Tuesday—won six of their eight qualifying games.

However, Sweden benefited from a safety net: their 2024-25 Nations League group victory offered a backdoor route to the World Cup via the playoffs.

From Struggle to Revival

The sacking of former manager Jon Dahl Tomasson in October marked a turning point. Tomasson’s insistence on a man-to-man defensive system left the team vulnerable, while his use of English rather than Danish alienated fans and media alike.

Potter returned to Sweden, where he previously guided Östersunds FK to a Europa League spot, and immediately won over a sceptical public by speaking fluent Swedish at his debut press conference. After a 4-1 defeat to Switzerland in his first match, the Swedish Football Association signaled its support by extending Potter’s contract until 2030—weeks before the playoffs began.

The Potter Effect

Under Potter, Sweden rediscovered the collective harmony that had long been a hallmark of the national team. Tensions between players and staff, common during the Tomasson era, disappeared, giving way to a confident, united squad.

This psychological shift was most evident in a 3-1 semi-final win over Ukraine, where Sweden displayed the composure missing during their winless qualifying run. Against Poland, that mental strength was on full display: Sweden came from behind twice before Gyokeres’ late strike sealed the victory.

“We have very good players and strong leadership, which has helped us a lot since they came in. We all appreciate them greatly,” goalscorer Anthony Elanga told Swedish media. “They have created an environment where we can simply enjoy our football. We defend together and attack together. I think that is the most important thing.”

Tuesday’s win also exorcised the ghosts of 2022, when a 2-0 playoff defeat to Poland ended Sweden’s World Cup dreams. By overturning that result, Potter’s side has closed one of the darkest chapters in modern Swedish football.

-Reporting by Tommy Lund in Gdansk; Editing by Toby Davis/Reuters