Ludvig Håkanson Shines Despite Sweden's 83-94 Loss to Slovenia in World Cup Qualifier

Sweden's men's basketball team suffered a 83-94 defeat to Slovenia in their World Cup qualifying match at Scandinavium in Gothenburg, despite a remarkable performance by Ludvig Håkanson. Nearly 10,000 fans witnessed Håkanson score 34 points, including a spectacular 17 points in a nine-minute span during the second quarter, spurring a strong comeback effort. Sweden trailed 31-16 after a poor first quarter, a start described by SVT expert Nick Rajacic as "almost disrespectfully poor." Håkanson helped narrow the gap to 42-49 by halftime and tied the game at 55-55 with a three-pointer in the third quarter, but Sweden could not maintain consistency to overcome Slovenia's lead.

Håkanson expressed frustration with the team's uneven performance and officiating issues, emphasizing the need for smarter play and better foul shooting. Currently at the bottom of their qualifying group with two points from two games, Sweden faces Estonia next in February 2026 as part of their campaign for the 2027 World Cup in Qatar. The team competes in a tough group including the Czech Republic, Slovenia, and Estonia. Despite the disappointing result, Håkanson's individual brilliance stood out as a beacon of hope for Sweden's basketball prospects moving forward.