The Swedish Football Association has announced the appointment of former Chelsea manager Graham Potter as the new head coach of the national team, following the dismissal of Jon Dahl Tomasson last week.
Tomasson’s contract was terminated on October 14 after Sweden collected just one point from their opening four matches in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, leaving them at the bottom of Group B.
Potter, who was relieved of his duties at Premier League side West Ham United in September, will now take charge of a struggling Swedish side aiming to revive their World Cup hopes. The team features star forwards Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres but has failed to score in their last three matches.
In a statement, the Swedish FA said, “The goal is to create the optimal conditions to reach the World Cup in the summer of 2026.”
The contract covers the ongoing qualifying campaign, including upcoming fixtures against Switzerland and Slovenia in November, as well as a potential playoff in March. It will automatically extend if Sweden secures qualification for the tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Reacting to his appointment, the 50-year-old Englishman expressed both humility and optimism:
“I am very humble facing this assignment, but also incredibly inspired. Sweden has fantastic players who deliver week after week in the world’s best leagues.”
Potter is no stranger to Swedish football, having managed Ostersunds FK from 2011 to 2018, leading them from the fourth tier to the Allsvenskan and European competition.
Since then, he has coached Swansea City, Brighton & Hove Albion, Chelsea, and most recently West Ham. Once regarded as one of England’s most promising managers, Potter will now seek to rekindle his career by guiding Sweden back to the global stage.
