Thirty-two years ago, on this very American soil, Sweden pulled off one of the greatest surprises in World Cup history.
Third in 1994, behind champions Brazil and runners-up Italy, the Blagult made a lasting impression with their direct, collective and ruthlessly efficient football.
In 2026, a new golden generation arrives in the United States with a clear ambition: to rekindle that flame.
The Sweden of 1994 boasted several standout players: Tomas Brolin energised the attack, Kennet Andersson and Martin Dahlin brought power and clinical finishing up front, Henrik Larsson was already showing great promise, and Thomas Ravelli remained rock-solid in crucial moments.
Together, they put together one of the tournament’s most memorable campaigns.
In the quarter-finals, up against Romania and the legendary Gheorghe Hagi, the Swedes had to wait for the penalty shootout.
Larsson, just 22 at the time, converted the decisive spot-kick before Ravelli saved the next penalty to send Sweden into the semi-finals.
That exhausting quarter-final against Romania, with Ravelli’s two crucial saves in the shootout, made him a national hero.
In the semi-final, the Brazilian machine ended Sweden’s dream of a final. The team had racked up hundreds of minutes on the pitch and travelled thousands of kilometres across America, with 24 hours less rest.
But they weren’t finished yet. Facing Bulgaria in the third-place play-off, Sweden enjoyed themselves in the first half, piling on the goals through Tomas Brolin (8th), Hakan Mild (30th), Henrik Larsson (37th) and Kennet Andersson (40th). It was a masterclass, sealing a 4-0 win and a historic third place.
A tough qualification, Graham Potter works his magic
Thirty-two years on, the road to this 2026 World Cup was anything but straightforward. Absent from the last World Cup in Qatar, Sweden clawed their way back from the brink during qualifying.
This new generation’s rocky start, finishing bottom behind Switzerland, Kosovo and Slovenia, raised fears that this group would never find the right formula.
Despite this disastrous record, the Blagult were handed a lifeline through the Nations League. What looked like a dead end turned into a miracle in the play-offs.
Under the guidance of Graham Potter, the team shifted from a very defensive style to devastating transitions.
After spells in charge of English clubs Swansea, Brighton, Chelsea and West Ham, Potter returned to Sweden in October 2025 as national team manager.
Fluent in Swedish thanks to his time at Östersund as a player, he made an immediate impact, guiding his side to play-off victories over Ukraine and Poland to secure World Cup qualification.
Gyokeres and Isak, the duo bringing hope
Where the 1994 generation relied on the Brolin-Dahlin-Andersson trio, it’s now another duo exciting the pundits. Viktor Gyökeres and Alexander Isak form one of the most anticipated strike partnerships of this World Cup.
Gyokeres embodies power, efficiency and a striker’s instinct. Isak, more mobile and technically refined, offers the ability to drop deep, link up play and attack the space behind defences.
Gyökeres has enjoyed a sensational 2026 with Arsenal, winning the Premier League title, and has carried that form into the national team, scoring 14 goals.
He is currently one of the most clinical forwards in the world, with a shot-to-goal conversion rate of 34%.
However, Alexander Isak has been hampered by injuries and has yet to rediscover his best form. The Liverpool man’s fitness will be one of the keys to Sweden’s tournament.
The absences of Dejan Kulusevski and Roony Bardghji also limit some creative options.
An open group, reasons to believe
Graham Potter’s side face Tunisia, the Netherlands and Japan in Group F. It’s a balanced draw that offers a real chance of reaching the last 16.
With an average of just 19.9 caps per player, this is their least experienced squad at a major tournament in over half a century. Only captain Victor Lindelof and Alexander Isak have previously played in major competitions like the World Cup or the Euros.
This lack of experience is certainly a risk, but Henrik Larsson in 1994 was also just 22, unknown to the wider public, and scored a penalty that would go down in history.
Follow Sweden's World Cup opener against Tunisia with Flashscore
FIFA World Cup 2026
The 2026 World Cup will be held from June 11th to July 19th in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The tournament will feature 48 national teams and will be played in 16 modern stadiums.
Match schedule and times | Group tables | England at the World Cup | Scotland at the World Cup | Team rosters at the World Cup | How to watch the World Cup | Predictions and odds | Which teams could be considered dark horses?