The Swedish Football Association (SvFF) has today announced the immediate dismissal of Jon Dahl Tomasson as manager of the national team. The decision comes in the wake of a disappointing run in the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign, culminating in a 1-0 home defeat against Kosovo. This result leaves Sweden at the bottom of Group B with a mere one point from four games, severely jeopardizing their chances of reaching the tournament in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.

"The decision taken by the association's board is based on the fact that the men's national team has not delivered the results we had hoped for," stated SvFF chairman Simon Åström. "There is still a chance of a playoff in March and our responsibility is to ensure that we have the best possible conditions to be able to reach a World Cup playoff. In this, we assess that new leadership is required in the form of a new national team coach".

Tomasson, a former Danish international striker and Champions League winner with AC Milan, was appointed as Sweden's first foreign-born coach in February 2024. Despite boasting a squad with high-profile players such as Alexander Isak of Liverpool and Viktor Gyökeres of Arsenal, who cost a combined $250 million this summer, Tomasson struggled to find a winning formula.

Sweden's qualifying campaign began with a draw against Slovenia, followed by three consecutive losses, including two against Kosovo and one against Switzerland. The team's failure to score goals, coupled with defensive vulnerabilities, drew heavy criticism from fans and pundits alike. "That was a terrible result today. That kills us. We let in easy goals and we also forgot how to score goals," Tomasson said after the Kosovo defeat.

The defeat against Kosovo in Gothenburg proved to be the final straw. Despite Tomasson's initial resolve to fight for his job, the SvFF swiftly moved to terminate his contract. "I have a contract with the Swedish federation and we are in the middle of qualifying," Tomasson told Viaplay after the game.

The search for Tomasson's replacement has already begun, with the SvFF keen to appoint a new coach to lead the team into the remaining World Cup qualifying matches in November and potentially the playoffs in March. Potential replacements include Kim Bergstrand/Thomas Lagerlöf, Olof Mellberg.

The task ahead for the new coach will be significant. Sweden's star players, including Isak and Gyökeres, have underperformed, and the team lacks a clear attacking identity. As Alexander Isak noted, the team "hasn't moved forward" and is in a "crisis situation".

This marks the first time in the history of the Swedish men's national team that a manager has been sacked mid-qualifying campaign. The SvFF's decision underscores the seriousness of the situation and the urgent need for a change in direction if Sweden is to have any hope of reaching the 2026 World Cup.