New York Red Bulls captain Emil Forsberg has been recalled to the Swedish national team for crucial 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Switzerland on Saturday and Slovenia on Nov. 18.
This marks the first time Forsberg has been summoned for World Cup qualifiers, as his national team appearances have decreased since moving from Red Bull Leipzig in the German Bundesliga to New York two winters ago.
Last year, he appeared 12 times for Sweden across friendlies, European Championship qualifiers, and UEFA Nations League matches.
The seasoned midfielder excelled in his second season with the Red Bulls, starting 32 out of 34 league games and scoring 11 goals with 10 assists. He is the first player since Thierry Henry in 2014 to achieve more than 10 goals and assists in a single season for the club. He is one of two players in franchise history to record multiple goals and assists in a single match, achieving this feat in a 7-0 win over the LA Galaxy in May. He ranks as the eighth player in club history with 25 goal contributions in his first 40 matches.
With 90 caps for Sweden, Forsberg is among just 16 players to achieve this milestone for the national team. His 21 goals rank him tied for 14th in national team history.
One of his key international goals was the winner against Switzerland in the 2018 World Cup Round of 16, propelling Sweden to the quarterfinals for the first time since 1994.
Sweden missed the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and their chances of qualifying for the 2026 tournament, hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico — with the final at MetLife Stadium near Sports Illustrated Stadium, where the Red Bulls play — are bleak.
They are winless in their first four matches in Group B of UEFA’s qualifying, sitting last with one point. This led the Swedish FA to dismiss manager Jon Dahl Tomasson and appoint former Chelsea and West Ham manager Graham Potter, who recalled Forsberg.
With two qualifiers left, Sweden cannot win Group B to guarantee an automatic spot in the 48-team World Cup in June. They can still aim for a play-off spot by finishing second, but they must win the final two matches while hoping Kosovo, currently second with seven points, loses both its remaining games.
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