The Swedish Football Association has terminated the contract of head coach Jon Dahl Tomasson due to a disappointing performance in the early stages of their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.
They currently sit at the bottom of Group B, having earned just one point from four matches after a 1-0 loss to Kosovo on Monday.
Sweden, boasting a star-studded forward line featuring Liverpool’s Alexander Isak and Arsenal’s Viktor Gyokeres, managed a draw against Slovenia but suffered defeats to Kosovo and Switzerland in their first three group matches.
The FA stated that the decision, made on Tuesday and effective immediately, was “based on a lack of results in the World Cup qualifiers.”
“There is still a chance to make the playoffs in March, and our responsibility is to ensure that we have the best possible conditions for reaching the World Cup finals,” Simon Astrom, president of the association, said in a statement.
“In this, we assess that a new leadership is required in the form of a new coach.”
Sweden will face Switzerland away and then host Slovenia in their final two matches as they aim to close the gap with second-placed Kosovo, who have accumulated seven points in Group B.
Nevertheless, they could still qualify for the play-offs even if they don’t finish in the top two of Group B, thanks to their success in topping their group in the 2024-25 Nations League.
The winners of the World Cup qualifying groups will secure 12 of the 16 available spots for European nations at next summer’s tournament, with the runners-up in each group advancing to the play-offs.
A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.
Nnamdi Okoli
