FIFA World Cup 2026: Sweden Announces 26-Man Squad For Upcoming WC; Dejan Kulusevski Misses Out

Sweden head coach Graham Potter has announced a 26-man squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026, scheduled to take place in the USA, Canada, and Mexico on Tuesday. In the 26-man squad, announced by Potter, there was no place for Tottenham Hotspur forward Dejan Kulusevski, who has been out of footballing action with Spurs due to a knee injury for over a year.

Sweden coach Graham Potter announced his FIFA World Cup 2026 squad on Tuesday, but there was no place for Tottenham Hotspur forward Dejan Kulusevski, ⁠who has been out of the game for a year with a knee injury and has not recovered in time for the tournament.

FIFA World Cup 2026: Major Misses In Swedish Squad

Dejan Kulusevski is one of the big names who will be missing the FIFA World Cup 2026 with Sweden. The Tottenham man has been on the sidelines for almost a year, which has prompted Potter to take such a decision.

"A very, very ‌difficult ⁠decision in terms of where he (Kulusevski) has been, what he's done over ⁠the last year, where he's at in terms of his rehab with four and a half weeks to go to that first game," Potter told a media conference, quoted by Reuters.

Kulusevski's fellow Swedish compatriot, Alexander Isak, was also sidelined from footballing action due to injuries from December 2025. However, Potter believes that the Newcastle United forward will recover in time to lead the Swedish lines at the upcoming World Cup.

FIFA World Cup 2026: Full Sweden Squad

Here is the 26-man squad of Sweden announced by Graham Potter

Goalkeepers

• Kristoffer Nordfeldt (AIK)
• Viktor Johansson (Stoke City)
• Jacob Widell ⁠Zetterström (Derby County)

Defenders

• Daniel Svensson (Borussia Dortmund)
• Victor Lindelof (Aston Villa)
• Isak Hien (Atalanta)
• Carl Starfelt (Celta Vigo)
• Elliot Stroud (Mjallby AIF)
• Gustaf Lagerbielke (Braga)
• Gabriel Gudmundsson (Leeds United)
• Emil Holm (Juventus)
• Hjalmar ‌Ekdal (Burnley)
• Erik Smith (St. Pauli)

Midfielders & forwards

• Taha Ali (Malmo FF)
• Yasin Ayari (Brighton & Hove Albion)
• Lucas Bergvall (Tottenham Hotspur)
• Anthony Elanga (Newcastle United)
• Viktor Gyokeres (Arsenal)
• Jesper Karlstrom (Udinese)
• Gustaf Nilsson (Club Brugge)
• Benjamin ​Nygren (Celtic)
• Mattias Svanberg (VfL Wolfsburg)
• Besfort Zeneli (Royal Union Saint-Gilloise)
• Alexander Isak (Liverpool)
• Alexander Bernhardsson (Holstein Kiel)
• Ken Sema (Pafos)

Sweden endured a disappointing qualifying campaign, finishing bottom of their group with just two points. However, their UEFA Nations League Group C performance kept their hopes alive, as they advanced through the playoffs. Sweden then made the most of the opportunity, defeating Ukraine national football team and Poland national football team to secure a place at the finals.