Sweden and Slovenia Set for Final World Cup Qualifier

STOCKHOLM, Sweden — Sweden and Slovenia will meet on November 18, 2025, in their final match of the UEFA World Cup Qualifying Group B at the Friends Arena. Both teams have already been eliminated from automatic qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, making this match an exercise in pride.

Sweden currently sits at the bottom of Group B, having amassed only one point from five matches. They began their campaign with a promising 2-2 draw against Slovenia but have since suffered three straight losses to Kosovo and Switzerland, leading to the dismissal of manager Jon Dahl Tomasson. Graham Potter has taken over as interim manager, aiming to uplift the team.

In their last encounter, Sweden faced a heavy 4-1 defeat to Switzerland. Despite their struggles in qualifiers, Sweden still has a chance to compete for a World Cup spot through the playoffs via the Nations League route.

Slovenia equally struggles, sitting third in Group B with just three points from five matches. Their campaign began with a draw against Sweden but quickly derailed with three consecutive draws and two losses. Goals have been scarce for the Slovenian team, with only two scored throughout the qualifying rounds.

Coach Matjaz Kek is under pressure as Slovenia seeks to end their qualifying campaign with a victory. Their recent history against Sweden is not promising, as they haven’t secured a win in their last four meetings.

Injuries and suspensions impact both teams. Slovenia will miss key defender Petar Stojanovic following a red card in their last match. Sweden also faces challenges, missing players like Hugo Larsson and Lucas Bergvall. Reports suggest that Alexander Isak could take a starting position in hopes of scoring against Slovenia.

With both teams looking to salvage their campaigns, the match on November 18 promises to be an intriguing encounter. Fans hope for a competitive game, as neither side will want to finish at the bottom of the group.