Swedish National Football Team Faces Storm and Uncertainty in World Cup Preparations

The Swedish national football team has commenced its preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup amid challenging weather conditions and intriguing discussions surrounding team personnel. On Wednesday, the squad gathered in Stockholm to begin training at Bosön, Lidingö, where head coach Graham Potter held a press conference before the session. Despite initial sunny conditions, the team’s first training was delayed by 20 minutes due to sudden, fierce winds and heavy rain. As a result, training focused on assessing players' physical conditions through warm-ups and small-area games but was cut short to avoid the deteriorating weather.

Nearly all players were present except Viktor Gyökeres, who is with Arsenal for the Champions League final. Some players, including Emil Holm and Mattias Svanberg, followed individualized training regimes due to recent games, while others adjusted efforts based on the weather. Post-training, players split between the sauna and the dining hall to recuperate.

Looking ahead, Sweden will continue training in Stockholm, alternating between Bosön and Strawberry Arena. The team has scheduled a preparatory match against Norway on June 1 and a final warm-up against Greece on June 4. The World Cup itself begins on June 11, with Sweden set to face Tunisia, the Netherlands, and Japan in Group F, debuting on June 15 against Tunisia.

In parallel with on-field preparations, Potter disclosed a notable conversation with legendary Swedish footballer Zlatan Ibrahimovic regarding a possible return to the national team ahead of the March playoffs. Despite recognizing Ibrahimovic’s immense importance to Swedish football and trying to persuade him to rejoin, Potter acknowledged Ibrahimovic's busy schedule and subsequent decision not to return. Ibrahimovic will instead contribute as a World Cup expert for Fox Sports, a role Potter praised, stating, “He will do it fantastically, I will listen to him.”