Stockholm, October 14, 2025 – In a historic and unprecedented move for Swedish football, the Swedish Football Association (SvFF) has dismissed national team manager Jon Dahl Tomasson just 19 months into his tenure, following a dismal start to the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign. The decision, announced on Tuesday afternoon and effective immediately, comes mere hours after Sweden's humiliating 1-0 home defeat to Kosovo on Monday night in Gothenburg, leaving the Blågult rooted to the bottom of UEFA Group B with a solitary point from four matches. This marks the first time in the history of the men's national team that a head coach has been sacked mid-qualifying cycle, underscoring the depth of frustration within the federation, among players, and from a fanbase accustomed to steadier progress.
The SvFF's statement was terse but pointed: "The decision is based on a lack of results in the World Cup qualifiers." Simon Åström, president of the association, elaborated in an accompanying release, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. "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," Åström said. "In this, we assess that a new leadership is required in the form of a new coach." Kim Källström, head of the federation's elite football department, echoed the sentiment, adding, "We have a group of players that we believe in very much and want to create new opportunities for them to deliver." The abrupt termination has sent shockwaves through Scandinavian football circles, with immediate speculation turning to potential replacements and the tactical overhaul needed to salvage Sweden's qualification hopes.
Tomasson, the 49-year-old Dane who became the first foreign coach in Swedish men's national team history when appointed in February 2024, arrived with a glowing reputation. A joint-record goalscorer for Denmark with 52 international strikes during a storied playing career that included stints at Newcastle United, Feyenoord, and AC Milan, Tomasson transitioned seamlessly into management. His CV boasted success at Dutch clubs Excelsior and Roda JC, a Swedish Allsvenskan title with Malmö FF in 2020, and a respectable mid-table finish with Blackburn Rovers in England's Championship before he left Ewood Park in 2024 to take the Sweden job. He replaced the long-serving Janne Andersson, who had guided Sweden to the quarter-finals of Euro 2020 but oversaw back-to-back relegations in the UEFA Nations League and a failure to qualify for the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024.
Early signs were promising under Tomasson. After a rocky start with three losses in his first four friendlies, he orchestrated an unbeaten run in the 2024-25 UEFA Nations League League C1 group, where Sweden topped a pool containing Azerbaijan, Estonia, and Slovakia. Key results included a 3-1 away win at Azerbaijan on September 5, 2024, a 3-0 home victory over Estonia on September 8, a 2-0 win in Slovakia on October 11, and a dominant 6-0 thrashing of Azerbaijan on November 19. This promotion back to League B was fueled by the firepower of Sweden's "all-star forward line," as one pundit dubbed it: Liverpool's Alexander Isak and Arsenal's Viktor Gyökeres, who combined for 16 goals across the campaign, with Gyökeres emerging as the tournament's top scorer with nine strikes. That Nations League success not only boosted morale but also secured Sweden a valuable lifeline in World Cup qualifying, as the four best-ranked group winners from the competition who fail to finish in the top two of their qualifying groups earn play-off spots.
Yet, the qualifying campaign has been an unmitigated disaster, exposing the fragility of Tomasson's high-possession, attacking philosophy against pragmatic opponents. Drawn into a compact Group B alongside Switzerland, Slovenia, and Kosovo – a group of four teams that began fixtures in September 2025 – Sweden's woes began with a 2-0 away loss to Switzerland on September 6, where defensive lapses allowed Granit Xhaka to dictate play and Breel Embolo to score twice. A fortnight later, on September 20, they labored to a 1-1 draw in Ljubljana against Slovenia, squandering a lead through Gyökeres' early strike when Benjamin Šeško equalized in the 90th minute. Isak, still shaking off the rust from a tumultuous summer transfer saga at Newcastle – where he spent preseason on strike demanding a move before sealing a £125 million switch to Liverpool on deadline day – was controversially benched by Tomasson, a decision that drew praise from new Reds boss Arne Slot but ire from Swedish media.
The return leg against Switzerland on October 10 in Solna's Strawberry Arena offered redemption, but instead delivered another 2-1 defeat. Despite taking an early lead via Isak, Sweden's backline crumbled under pressure from Xherdan Shaqiri's free-kick and a Ruben Vargas counter. Three days later, the nadir arrived: a 1-0 loss to Kosovo in Gothenburg, where Edon Zhegrova's second-half header proved decisive. Sweden dominated possession at 68% but mustered just three shots on target, with goalkeeper Robin Olsen later bemoaning the team's "naivety" in open play. Post-match, Tomasson unleashed a rare public rebuke at his forwards, telling reporters, "It's not good enough and it's a terrible result," before adding pointedly about Isak and Gyökeres: "They need to step up – we can't keep relying on flair without finish." This outburst, captured on Swedish broadcaster SVT, reportedly deepened rifts in the dressing room, with local outlet SportBladet citing sources that several senior players, including Olsen and Victor Lindelöf, had lost confidence in the coach's methods.
Tactical critiques have been relentless. Tomasson, a former center-forward himself, was adamant about pairing Isak and Gyökeres in attack, drawing on his own successful duos from Malmö days. However, his preferred 3-5-2 formation – a departure from Sweden's traditional defensive solidity under Andersson – has left the team exposed. Wing-backs like Emil Holm have struggled in transition, while midfield enforcers such as Jens Cajuste have been overrun. "He promised attacking football and completely forgot what Sweden stands for – being solid defensively," lamented one former international in Aftonbladet. Injuries haven't helped: Tottenham's Dejan Kulusevski missed the first three qualifiers with a hamstring strain, depriving the attack of width. Young talents like Lucas Bergvall have been trialed in unfamiliar roles, such as central midfield without prior training, leading to malfunctioning performances.
Fan fury has boiled over, with polls in Expressen and Aftonbladet showing over 80% demanding Tomasson's head after the Kosovo game. Social media erupted, with hashtags like #TomassonUt trending across X, where users decried the "bizarre" late lineup reveal – just two hours before kickoff – as symptomatic of disarray. One viral post from a supporters' group read: "From Nations League heroes to qualifying zeros – time for a Swede to fix this mess." Attendance at the Kosovo match dipped below 20,000 in a 50,000-capacity stadium, a stark contrast to the electric atmospheres of the Nations League triumphs.
The broader context of UEFA's 2026 World Cup qualifying format adds pressure. With 16 slots for Europe – up from 13 in 2022 – the competition features 12 groups (six of four teams, six of five), running from March to November 2025, with play-offs in March 2026. Group winners qualify directly, runners-up advance to play-offs alongside the four top Nations League group winners outside the top two. Sweden's Group B standings make grim reading: leaders Switzerland sit on 9 points, Kosovo on 7, Slovenia on 4, and the hosts on 1. Two matches remain: an away trip to Switzerland on November 14, followed by hosting Slovenia on November 17. Even maximum points (6) would leave them short of second place barring collapses elsewhere, but their Nations League pedigree offers a play-off parachute – provided they rank among the best non-qualifiers.
As for a successor, the search is underway, with the SvFF prioritizing a quick appointment ahead of the November window. Early favorites include Swedish natives like former Aston Villa defender Olof Mellberg, currently managing IFK Norrköping, and ex-Arsenal midfielder Freddie Ljungberg, who has coaching experience with the Gunners' youth setup. Other names floated include Denmark's Kasper Hjulmand or even a return for Andersson, though his availability is uncertain. "We need someone who understands Swedish resilience," Åström hinted, signaling a potential pivot back to homegrown leadership. The incoming coach inherits a squad brimming with Premier League talent – Isak (52 caps, 12 goals), Gyökeres (28 caps, 18 goals), Lindelöf at Manchester United, and emerging stars like Mattias Svanberg at Bologna – but one plagued by cohesion issues.
This saga underscores Sweden's transitional era. Absent the retired Zlatan Ibrahimović since 2023, the team blends golden-generation remnants with a youthful core eyeing the 2030 cycle. Yet, missing consecutive World Cups would sting, especially with the expanded 48-team tournament in North America offering more pathways. As Åström noted, "The window is narrow, but not shut." For now, Swedish football braces for interim turbulence, hoping a fresh voice can reignite the flame that flickered so brightly in the Nations League. The road to the U.S., Canada, and Mexico remains fraught, but in football's unpredictable theater, stranger turnarounds have occurred.
