We’re one step closer to learning which team will fill the final spot in Group F for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Either Sweden or Poland will soon punch their ticket to the competition, setting themselves up to take the field at Arlington’s AT&T Stadium in June.
Sweden picked up a victory over Ukraine in a UEFA World Cup qualifying semifinal on Thursday, while Poland defeated Albania. Sweden and Poland will meet on Tuesday to decide who goes to the World Cup.
The Sweden/Poland winner is scheduled to face Japan in a World Cup group stage match on June 25 at AT&T Stadium.
Read below to learn more about the Sweden and Poland semifinal victories on Thursday:
Sports Roundup
Viktor Gyökeres hit a hat trick to send Sweden past Ukraine 3-1 despite not having scored for his country since 2024. Until Thursday, Gyökeres was scoreless and Sweden winless in a miserable qualifying group campaign.
The game was played in Spain because Ukraine hasn’t hosted international games since the Russian invasion of 2022.
“Viktor Gyökeres made the difference tonight,” Ukraine coach Serhiy Rebrov said. “He showed his quality and proved he’s one of the best strikers in Europe.”
Sweden will face Poland after 37-year-old Robert Lewandowski scored a crucial header in a 2-1 win over Albania, keeping alive the Barcelona striker’s bid to reach a third World Cup.
Albania took the lead through Arber Hoxha just before halftime after a defensive blunder by Poland. Lewandowski’s header at a corner got his team back into the game before Piotr Zielinski’s goal put Poland in front.
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