Sweden Faces Playoff Pressure After Draw with Slovenia in World Cup Qualifiers

The Swedish national football team ended their final 2025 World Cup qualifying match with a goalless draw against Slovenia, under the management of Graham Potter. Despite the match's seemingly reduced significance, having already qualified for the upcoming playoff in March, the result has sparked concern among fans and analysts about Sweden's form and prospects.

Coach Graham Potter made nine changes to the starting lineup for the match, including the introduction of Roony Bardghji and Gustav Lundgren. This was partly a strategic move to protect key players such as Alexander Isak and Yasin Ayari, who faced the risk of suspension from yellow cards. The match took place at Strawberry Arena, starting at 20:45 on Tuesday evening.

The team has been plagued by injuries and personal absences that have kept influential players like Viktor Gyökeres, Dejan Kulusevski, and Lucas Bergvall sidelined. Anthony Elanga also left the squad due to personal reasons. This, combined with the uncertain availability of nine players, has left the squad depleted and raised questions about the team's readiness for forthcoming challenges.

Fans expressed disappointment over the uninspired and passive performance in the draw, with former player Mikael Lustig criticizing the lack of ambition and effectiveness on the field. These concerns are particularly pressing as Sweden heads into the World Cup playoffs, where they are placed in the weakest seeding group and face the risk of drawing a top-ranked opponent such as Italy, according to the playoff structure outlined by Aftonbladet. The playoff draw will take place on Thursday, determining semifinal matchups scheduled for March 26, with finals on March 31 to decide World Cup placements.

Captain Victor Nilsson Lindelöf acknowledged the match against Slovenia could be his last opportunity to participate in a World Cup, emphasizing the pride associated with national representation beyond personal achievements. Coach Potter stressed the importance of establishing a stable team identity and improving performance to regain confidence ahead of the playoffs.

As Sweden prepares for the critical playoff matches, the team and supporters alike recognize the challenges ahead in securing qualification for the 2026 World Cup, with the upcoming playoff draw and matches being decisive moments for the nation's football future.