Viktor Gyokeres World Cup lifeline confirmed after Arsenal star outscores Cristiano Ronaldo and Erling Haaland | OneFootball

Striker’s goals in the Nations League are set to prove crucial

Those strikes played a big role in helping Sweden to earn promotion to League B as they topped Group C1 ahead of Slovakia, Estonia and Azerbaijan.

Furthermore, as group winners, Sweden can benefit from a format change in regards to the World Cup qualifiers following the expansion to 48 teams - from 32 - competing in the finals.

The four best-ranked Nations League group winners that finish outside the top two of their World Cup qualifying group will advance to the play-offs that takes place in March 2026.

Sweden fall into this category after a dismal World Cup qualifying campaign.

Back-to-back defeats against Switzerland and Kosovo during the October international break left Sweden bottom of Group B with two matches left to play.

Already unable to qualify for the World Cup as group winners, Sweden’s faint hopes of finishing second were dashed as they slumped to a 4-1 loss to the Swiss on Saturday in what as Graham Potter’s first game in charge after replacing Jon Dahl Tomasson.

However, despite failing to secure a top-two finish, their World Cup dream is not over as it has been confirmed they will take part in the UEFA play-offs.

Sweden will be in Pot D along with the three other best-ranked teams from the previous Nations League campaign who also failed to finish in the top-two during the group phase.

As things stand, Romania and Northern Ireland are the two other confirmed teams.

Thanks partly to the goals of Gyokeres and their subsequent Nations League performance, Sweden have a lifeline that could yet see them join the party at next summer’s major tournament.