Sweden Faces Growing Pressure After Crucial World Cup Qualifier Loss to Switzerland
Sweden's 0-2 home defeat to Switzerland in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers has plunged the team to last place and intensified pressure on coach Jon Dahl Tomasson amid calls for his resignation.
- • Sweden lost 0-2 at home to Switzerland, placing them last in their group with one point from three matches.
- • Swedish Football Association held crisis talks about Tomasson's future, exploring potential replacements.
- • Fans exhibited strong dissatisfaction, demanding the coach's resignation after the match.
- • Sweden must win their next qualifier against Kosovo to stay in playoff contention for the World Cup.
Key details
Sweden suffered a significant 0-2 defeat against Switzerland in a key 2026 World Cup qualifying match held at Strawberry Arena, placing the national team in a difficult position with only one point from three matches. Despite efforts including six changes to the starting lineup by coach Jon Dahl Tomasson and a spirited performance led by captain Alexander Isak, Sweden failed to capitalize on scoring opportunities, including hitting the post and a near miss from Lucas Bergvall. Switzerland secured their win with a penalty converted by Granit Xhaka following a foul by Alexander Bernhardsson, marking a turning point in the match.
The loss has intensified scrutiny on Tomasson, who has faced vocal criticism from fans demanding his resignation, including public displays such as banners and chants calling for former coach Janne Andersson. The Swedish Football Association has reportedly held informal crisis talks about Tomasson's future, exploring potential replacements amid growing concern over the team's poor start in the qualifiers.
Reactions have extended beyond football circles. Jimmie Åkesson, leader of the Sweden Democrats, expressed his frustration by saying he felt "robbed of 90 minutes of my life" after watching the match. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, while not watching the game, expressed regret over the defeat and noted his personal preference for the women’s game, highlighting the broader national disappointment.
With Sweden trailing Switzerland by eight points at the top of the group, the team now faces an uphill battle merely to qualify for the playoffs by finishing second. The next critical match against Kosovo is viewed as pivotal; victory there is essential to keep any hope alive for World Cup participation. The qualifiers have also been challenging for other teams in the group, with Belgium drawing and Ukraine securing a win that improves their playoff prospects.
Despite the severe setbacks, Tomasson described the recent defeat as disappointing but not definitive, emphasizing the team's commitment to striving forward. However, with fans and officials increasingly restless, pressure mounts on both the coach and players to reverse the current downward trend.