Sweden have officially sacked head coach Jon Dahl Tomasson following a shocking 1-0 home defeat to Kosovo, a result that has all but ended their hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Tomasson Dismissed After Disastrous Qualifying Campaign

The loss leaves Sweden with just one point from four World Cup qualifying matches, sitting six points adrift of a play-off place with only two fixtures remaining. Despite boasting a frontline worth £193.5 million, Sweden have managed to score just two goals in the campaign so far.

Tomasson’s departure follows growing pressure after a series of poor performances and a public outburst aimed at his star forwards.

Manager’s Furious Reaction to Star Strikers’ Struggles

After the defeat, Tomasson launched a scathing attack on his attacking players, particularly Viktor Gyökeres and Alexander Isak, who both failed to make an impact.

The Swedish boss admitted his frustration, saying:

“It’s not good enough and it’s a terrible result. It really hurts — we forgot how to score goals and I don’t know why.”

Gyökeres and Isak were both largely ineffective against Kosovo, with Isak recording the fewest touches of any player on the pitch (31).

Sweden’s Attack Falters Despite Star Power

Sweden’s attacking woes continued as they produced just four shots on target during the match. Anthony Elanga replaced Lucas Bergvall at halftime, but the Newcastle winger couldn’t turn things around.

Elanga also started on the bench during Sweden’s previous defeat to Switzerland, as Tomasson struggled to find a consistent attacking formula.

A Difficult Tenure Comes to an End

Tomasson was appointed as Sweden manager in February 2024, but managed only nine wins in 18 games. His sacking comes as Sweden face an uphill battle to keep their World Cup dream alive — they must now beat both Switzerland and Slovenia next month and overturn a -4 goal difference to have any chance of qualification.

The Swedish Football Association is expected to name an interim manager in the coming days as the team looks to salvage pride in their remaining fixtures.

What’s Next for Sweden?

With the World Cup all but out of reach, Sweden’s focus may now shift toward rebuilding for the UEFA Euro 2028 qualifiers. The pressure will be on their star players — including Isak, Gyökeres, and Elanga — to rediscover their form and restore national pride after a bitterly disappointing campaign.