Sweden beat Poland and Lewandowski was left out of the 2026 World Cup

Sweden beat 3-2 Poland in Stockholm for the UEFA playoffs and qualified for the 2026 World Cup. Anthony Elanga, Gustaf Lagerbielke and Viktor Gyökeres scored for the home side. Nicola Zalewski and Karol Swiderki did it for the homeowner.

As expected, the match was closely contested in the midfield from the first minute. The local team was looking for long tenures to try to stop the initial momentum of the visit.

In one of the first quick attacks that Sweden could unleash came the beautiful combination between Yasin Ayari and Anthony Elanga. The midfielder left it with a little block to the Newcastle forward, who opened his left foot and nailed it at an angle at 20′ of the initial stage.

At 30′, Zielinski found Zalewski, who tried from the door of the area and placed it next to the right post to make it 1-1.

But the local team was not satisfied with going into the break tied and took center stage in the final minutes. At 44′ a great cross from Benjamin Nygren arrived for Lagerbielke to jump and make it 2-1 for the Swede. Poland scored very poorly and as punishment went into halftime at a disadvantage.

The game, after the first goal, was high-flying. The nerves of the previous game and the limitations to take risks in attack were left behind with the opening of the score.

Something similar was experienced in the complement. After a few seconds of caution, it was 2-2 for Poland thanks to Karol Swiderski, who appeared at the far post to push her and unleash the celebration.

When everything seemed to indicate that the game was going into overtime, the scorer arrived. Viktor Gyökeres took a rebound inside the area and scored the winning and qualifying goal.

End of the dream for Robert Lewandowski. The soccer legend did not have a great night, although he did not have many opportunities, and he will be left without the possibility of playing in his last World Cup.

Sweden, qualified for Group F of the 2026 World Cup

Graham Potter’s team will share the zone with the Netherlands, Japan and Tunisia, a rival against whom they will debut next Sunday, June 14.