UEFA Path B
European World Cup qualifying playoff route won by Sweden via Gyokeres.
Last refreshed: 10 April 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
How did Sweden qualify for the 2026 World Cup?
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Background
UEFA Path B was one of four European qualifying playoff pathways for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Sweden won the Path B final on 31 March, beating Poland 3-2 in Stockholm with Viktor Gyokeres scoring an 88th-minute winner to send Sweden to their first World Cup since 2018.
Gyokeres scored four goals across the two Path B matches (a hat-trick in the semi-final against Ukraine, plus the decisive goal against Poland), single-handedly carrying Sweden through a pathway that would have eliminated them without his individual contribution. His form at Arsenal transferred directly into international football at the decisive moment.
The Path B outcome placed Sweden in the World Cup draw alongside established sides, with Gyokeres's June form the primary variable in Sweden's round-of-16 prospects.
