Sweden’s aspirations of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup are rapidly diminishing following a significant setback in their European qualifying campaign. After missing out on the 2022 tournament, the Scandinavian nation’s hopes have been dealt a severe blow, leaving their path to North America increasingly tenuous.
The decisive moment came in a home fixture against a seemingly weaker Kosovo side, where Sweden suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat. Despite boasting prominent attacking talents such as Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres, the Swedes failed to secure a vital victory. The lone goal of the match was scored by Hoffenheim forward Fisnik Asllani in the 32nd minute, a strike that proved enough to secure all three points for Kosovo and inflict a damaging loss on the hosts.
This unexpected result has plunged Sweden to the bottom of Group B. With just one point accumulated from four matches, their prospects for automatic qualification are now entirely extinguished. Their only remaining, albeit extremely remote, pathway to the World Cup lies through a potential playoff spot, which itself appears highly improbable given their current predicament. With only two matches left in their qualifying schedule, slated for November, time is rapidly running out for the Blågult.
To even stand a mathematical chance of contending for a playoff position, Sweden faces an almost insurmountable task. They would need to secure maximum points from their final two encounters, against Switzerland and Slovenia. Furthermore, merely winning these matches might not be sufficient; they would also need a substantial goal difference advantage, specifically needing to score more than five additional goals, assuming Kosovo also loses its remaining two fixtures.
The current Group B standings further underscore Sweden’s difficult situation. Kosovo, despite being considered one of the less favored teams in the group, now occupies second place with an impressive seven points. Switzerland currently leads the group comfortably with ten points, following a recent draw against Slovenia in Ljubljana on October 13. Slovenia sits in third place with three points.
Sweden’s last appearance at a FIFA World Cup was in 2018, hosted in Russia. Since then, the nation, which boasts a rich footballing history including a runner-up finish in the 1958 World Cup, has struggled to maintain its presence on football’s biggest stage, consistently falling short in qualifying rounds.
In contrast, Kosovo, a country with a population of just over 1.7 million, is experiencing a remarkable rise. Having only entered World Cup qualifiers for the first time in 2018, they are now eyeing a historic debut at the 2026 tournament, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Their next crucial challenge will be the second-leg fixture against Slovenia on November 16, a team they previously held to a 0-0 draw in their first encounter.
