Sweden have sacked manager Jon Dahl Tomasson following a poor start to their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.
They are bottom of Group B with one point from four games following a 1-0 defeat against Kosovo on Monday.
Sweden – who have an all-star forward line of Liverpool’s Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres of Arsenal – drew with Slovenia and lost against Kosovo and Switzerland in their opening three group games.
The former Blackburn Rovers manager, who played for Newcastle United during a distinguished career, became Sweden’s first foreign coach, external when the ex-Denmark striker took over in February 2024.
“The decision is based on the fact the men’s national team has not delivered the results we hoped for,” said Swedish Football Association’s chairman Simon Astrom in a statement.
“There is still a chance of a play-off in March and our responsibility is to ensure we have as optimal conditions as possible to be able to reach a World Cup play-off.
“In this, we assess that a new leadership is required in the form of a new coach.”
Sweden will travel to play Switzerland then host Slovenia in their final two matches as they try to draw level with second-placed Kosovo, who have seven points in Group B.
However, they could still reach the play-offs even without finishing in the top two of Group B as a result of their success in the 2024-25 Nations League, where they topped their group.
The winners of the World Cup qualifying groups will fill 12 of the 16 spots available for European nations at next summer’s tournament, with the runners-up in each group progressing to the play-offs.
They will be joined by the four best Nations League group winners who failed to finish in the top two of their groups in qualifying.
Wales, Romania, Sweden and Northern Ireland are the four sides currently in the play-off spots as a result of their Nations League performances.
