Sweden in Crisis After Kosovo Humiliation – But Several Paths to 2026 World Cup Still Remain

Sweden’s World Cup dream is hanging by a thread. A disastrous 2–2 draw in Ljubljana against Slovenia was followed by a humiliating 0–2 defeat to Kosovo in Pristina. The path to direct qualification is slipping away fast – but thanks to the Nations League, there’s an extra back door to the 2026 World Cup.

Defensive collapse, tactical chaos

The truth is brutal: Sweden’s structure is broken. Under head coach Jon Dahl Tomasson’s tactical blueprint, the team pushes high and seeks to dominate possession, but in doing so it leaves gaping holes that any opponent can exploit. Against Kosovo, those flaws were ruthlessly punished. The back line – with Gabriel Gudmundsson, Isak Hien and Hjalmar Ekdal all exposed – crumbled under pressure, while the midfield lost control. Up front, the attack looked toothless, with Arsenal striker Viktor Gyökeres turning in a particularly anonymous display, looking ice-cold across both matches in this international window. What remains is a side playing on autopilot – all ambition, no balance.

A system that simply doesn’t work

This is no longer about unlucky mistakes. It’s about a tactical plan that collapses under pressure. Sweden insists on risky possession and attacking football, but when it fails, there’s no safety net. Kosovo exposed that reality in the harshest possible way, slicing through the Swedish defense at will.

Tomasson under fire – but still defiant

Head coach Jon Dahl Tomasson insists his project is long-term and that the team needs time to adapt. But the criticism is growing louder by the day. Pundits and experts argue Sweden must either change the players to fit the system – or change the system to fit reality. It is true that Tomasson was hampered by absences: captain Victor Nilsson Lindelöf was unavailable, Tottenham star Dejan Kulusevski also missing, and Alexander Isak clearly fit for no more than 20 minutes across the entire window. Still, at some point, loyalty and patience may not be enough.

Nations League Lifeline

And yet, hope still flickers. Sweden’s Nations League results have provided an important safety net: even if the team fails to win the group and secure direct qualification, and also misses out on finishing second, which would normally guarantee a playoff spot, there is still a backdoor. That lifeline comes via the Nations League, offering a final chance to reach the playoff and keep the World Cup dream alive.

But make no mistake – this is not a safety net that can be relied on without significant changes. The current version of Sweden, with its defensive frailties, tactical rigidity, and inconsistent performances, would struggle to survive even this last-ditch scenario. Urgent fixes are required if the team hopes to turn this lifeline into a real opportunity.

What Sweden must fix – now

1. Tactical flexibility: A defensive plan must exist when the attacking game stalls.
2. A stronger defense: Correct positioning, tighter organisation, no more chaos at the back.
3. Discipline and focus: Eliminate the amateur mistakes that keep gifting goals.
4. Results over style: It’s no longer about pretty football – only winning matters.

The Verdict

Sweden’s World Cup dream is far from dead – but it hangs by a thread. There is still a clear path to direct qualification: win the remaining four group matches, including both games against Switzerland, and Sweden will win the group – no questions asked. That would secure a direct ticket to the 2026 World Cup and erase all doubts.

The road is straightforward on paper but daunting in reality. Sweden’s upcoming schedule looks like this:

• Sweden – Switzerland, 10 October
• Sweden – Kosovo, 13 October
• Switzerland – Sweden, 15 November
• Sweden – Slovenia, 18 November

Even if the team finishes second in the group, there is still a chance: reaching the playoff would keep the dream alive, though it would be far from guaranteed. And should both of these scenarios fail, Sweden’s Nations League results provide a last-ditch lifeline, offering a backdoor to the playoffs. That playoff run is scheduled for March 2026 – the very last chance to reach the World Cup.

The real question is not the structure of the qualification paths – it’s whether this current team, in its present form, has what it takes to get there. Tactical rigidity, defensive lapses, and uninspired performances raise serious doubts. Can Sweden win all four remaining matches and claim the top spot without major changes? Or even secure second place? At this moment, the answer is uncertain – hope exists, but only if the team adapts quickly and decisively.