Sweden has 1 point from 4 rounds; qualifying for the playoffs through the group stage requires a miracle, but the UEFA Nations League route is already secured.

The team most underperforming in the UEFA World Cup qualifiers is Sweden, which has key players from five major Premier League and Champions League clubs, namelyLiverpool’s Isak, Arsenal’s Jørgensen, Tottenham’s Kulusevski and Ribeval, and Newcastle’s Ilanga.In addition, there are alsoBrighton’s Ayari, Frankfurt’s Hugo Larsson, Dortmund’s Swenson, Atalanta’s Hien, and Aston Villa’s Lindelöf,all well-known stars from the top five leagues.

It is not an exaggeration to say that Sweden’s national team is packed with stars, yet they have failed to win any of their first four World Cup qualifying matches. After a 0-1 home defeat to Kosovo, Sweden has only 1 point from 1 draw and 3 losses, ranking last in UEFA Group B. This means Sweden is out of contention for the group winner spot and has lost the chance for direct qualification to the World Cup. Even earning a playoff spot through the group stage would require a miracle. The prerequisite is thatKosovo suffers two consecutive defeats, and Sweden must also beat Slovenia and Switzerland.Only if all these conditions are met can Sweden secure a playoff spot through the World Cup qualifiers, which is highly unlikely…

So here comes the question,has Sweden, with Premier League stars Isak and Jørgensen, already lost hope for the 2026 USA-Canada-Mexico World Cup?Not necessarily, because according to UEFA’s system, there is still the“playoff route” via the UEFA Nations League.Teams that fail to qualify directly or secure playoff spots through the World Cup qualifiers can be selected based on their overall UEFA Nations League rankings. The four best-performing teams in the Nations League can receive additional playoff places. Sweden, as the winner of UEFA Nations League Group C League A, has effectively secured a playoff spot in advance. Therefore, Sweden’s World Cup qualifying points are less relevant now; the key is to identify weaknesses in qualifiers and perform well in the playoffs. Italy is in a similar position, having also secured the UEFA Nations League “playoff route.”