Gyokeres out, Isak in: Sweden coach Graham Potter announces squad for FIFA World Cup Qualifiers

Viktor Gyokeres was left out of the first Sweden squad selected by new coach Graham Potter on Wednesday ahead of the side’s upcoming FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.

While Gyokeres will be sidelined due to a muscular injury picked up while playing for Arsenal at the weekend, fellow striker Alexander Isak was included in the squad despite missing Liverpool’s last four games because of a groin problem.

Potter was hired last month on an initial deal that will see him take control for Sweden’s final World Cup qualifiers, against Switzerland and Slovenia over the next two weeks.

He will also coach the struggling national team in the World Cup playoffs in March, which Sweden is likely to reach by virtue of winning its most recent Nations League group.

However, the Englishman will start his tenure without Gyokeres, who was substituted because of injury at half-time in Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Burnley in the Premier League on Saturday and missed the 3-0 victory at Slavia Prague in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Arsenal’s Viktor Gyokeres celebrates scoring their first goal against Burnley with Jurrien Timber.
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said ahead of the Slavia game that he was “concerned” about Gyokeres’ injury and indicated there was uncertainty over just how bad it was.

Isak, who joined Liverpool as the British record signing in the summer transfer window, hasn’t played since coming off at half-time in the 5-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt on October 22.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot said on Monday that Isak was in a race against time to be fit to play against Manchester City in the league on Sunday, and Potter said the striker’s fitness would be assessed after the weekend.

“He is not ready to play two matches for 90 minutes (for Sweden),” Potter said of Isak, “but he is available.”

Sweden is last in its four-team World Cup qualifying group, on one point from four games, after a dispiriting campaign that led to the firing of Jon Dahl Tomasson, its first foreign-born coach.

Published on Nov 05, 2025