Sweden and Poland will meet once again in a high-stakes World Cup playoff, with only one ticket to the 2026 tournament up for grabs. Four years after Poland triumphed on Swedish soil to reach Qatar 2022, this time the Blagult will have home advantage in Solna.
Sweden’s road to this playoff has been far from smooth. The team struggled in Group B, failing to win a single match and scoring just four goals while conceding 12. However, they earned a second chance through the UEFA Nations League, topping their group in Europe’s third tier to secure a playoff spot.
Their semi-final clash against Ukraine on neutral ground in Spain showcased their resurgence. Star striker Viktor Gyokeres delivered a stunning hat-trick in a 3-1 victory, bringing Sweden to the brink of their 13th World Cup appearance. Head coach Graham Potter, who took over in October, praised Gyokeres for his decisive performance.
This playoff also carries a personal edge: Sweden lost 2-0 to Poland in the 2022 final, a defeat sealed by Robert Lewandowski and Piotr Zielinski in Chorzow. Revenge will be on the minds of the Swedish squad.
Poland, meanwhile, are in strong form. They came from behind to beat Albania 2-1 in their semi-final, maintaining an unbeaten record under Jan Urban, who has overseen seven games since replacing Michal Probierz. Despite their playoff status, the Poles have been impressive, with five wins and two draws against Netherlands in the qualifying phase highlighting their quality.
Historically, Sweden remains a difficult venue for Poland. The Eagles last won in Solna 76 years ago and have lost their last three visits, including a 3-1 defeat in 2004.
Recent Form
Sweden (World Cup Qualifying – Europe): L L L L D WPoland (World Cup Qualifying – Europe): D W W D W W
Poland (All Competitions): W W W D W W
Team News
Sweden’s injury concerns continue to mount. Alexander Isak, Emil Krafth, and Dejan Kulusevski are already sidelined, and centre-back Isak Hien joins them after picking up an injury against Ukraine. Left-back Gabriel Gudmundsson may be replaced by Daniel Svensson if required. Gyokeres will lead the attack in Isak’s absence, aiming to continue his scoring streak from the semi-final.Poland will lean heavily on captain Lewandowski, their all-time top scorer and most-capped player, alongside influential midfielder Zielinski. Young talents like Filip Rozga and 17-year-old Oskar Pietuszewski could feature, though Nicola Zalewski may return from suspension to challenge for a starting spot.
Sweden possible lineup: Nordfeldt; Lagerbielke, Starfelt, Lindelof; Johansson, Karlstrom, Ayari, Svensson; Elanga, Nygren; Gyokeres
Poland possible lineup: Grabara; Kedziora, Bednarek, Kiwior; Cash, Slisz, Zielinski, Skoras; Szymanski, Zalewski; Lewandowski
Expert Prediction
Sweden 2-1 Poland
