Sweden's Football Crisis Deepens Amid World Cup Qualifying Struggles and Coaching Turmoil
Sweden's national football team faces harsh criticism and a tough path to the 2026 World Cup after poor performances in qualifiers and calls for coach Jon Dahl Tomasson's resignation.
- • Sweden has only one point from four matches in the World Cup qualifiers and is last in their group.
- • Experts and former players demand coach Jon Dahl Tomasson's resignation amidst poor tactical performance and results.
- • Sweden lost 0-1 to Kosovo, a result harshly criticized internationally as a major failure in Swedish football history.
- • To qualify for the World Cup, Sweden must win against Switzerland and Slovenia and rely on Kosovo losing matches; the Nations League route is a more difficult fallback option.
Key details
Sweden's national football team is embroiled in intense criticism and faces a daunting challenge to qualify for the 2026 World Cup after a series of poor performances in the qualifiers. The team currently holds only one point from four matches, following a 0-1 home loss to Kosovo, which left them at the bottom of their group and ignited widespread calls for head coach Jon Dahl Tomasson's resignation. Despite the pressure, Tomasson insists he will not step down.
Experts and former players are vocal about the team's plight. Johan Elmander described the situation bluntly, saying Tomasson 'has done his part' and that the team's tactics are ineffective. Mikael Lustig lamented the absence of a coherent game plan, warning that if Tomasson remains, the lack of progress will only continue. These critiques follow disappointing results including being shut out twice and the latest defeat by Kosovo, described by Norwegian media as 'the biggest failure in Swedish football history' and a crisis by several Scandinavian outlets.
Sweden's path to the World Cup is now perilous. To qualify directly or secure a playoff spot in March, Sweden must win upcoming matches against Switzerland and Slovenia while hoping Kosovo loses both remaining games. The team suffers a worse goal difference (-5) compared to Kosovo's (-1), making goal margins critical. Should direct qualification fail, Sweden could rely on the Nations League playoff route, which presents tougher opposition like Belgium or Germany. Currently ranked 32nd globally, Sweden's seeding in potential playoffs remains a disadvantage.
Peder Mørtvedt from Norwegian TV2 condemned the situation as one of Swedish football's biggest scandals, calling it "just embarrassing, sad, and completely terrible for all Swedes." With the World Cup qualification hanging by a thread and leadership under scrutiny, intense scrutiny and pressure will continue in the coming weeks as Sweden attempts to salvage its campaign.
The national team's struggles highlight an urgent need for strategic reassessment if Sweden hopes to restore its footballing reputation and secure a place on the global stage next summer.