Viktor Gyokeres and Alexander Isak on the brink of huge setback after summer transfers

Premier League strikers Viktor Gyokeres and Alexander Isak have suffered a blow in their hopes of playing in next summer’s World Cup with Sweden. The team sit at the bottom of qualification group B, meaning that they only have one more pathway open to make the journey to North America next summer.

The side, now managed by former Chelsea and Brighton manager Graham Potter, fell to a 4-1 loss against Switzerland on Saturday evening. It leaves them having picked up just one point from the first nine games.

They are back in action on Tuesday in the final qualification game against Slovenia. But the loss vs Switzerland means that Sweden go into that match knowing that they have no chance of finishing in the first automatic qualification spot, or the second play-off spot.

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There is, however, still a way of the nation taking part in the summer's tournament. They can book their place through the UEFA Nations League. Sweden won promotion in the tournament under former boss Jon Dahl Tomasson.

They therefore have a place in the World Cup play-offs by being one of the four best-performing teams in the Nations League, who are not assured of a play-off spot through World Cup qualifying.

The poor form in the World Cup qualifiers comes despite them having two of the most sought-after strikers in Europe at their disposal in Gyokeres and Isak. The former made a move to Arsenal from Sporting CP in the summer, while Isak completed a British record £125million move to Liverpool from Newcastle on deadline day.

Gyokeres is missing in the current international break through injury, while Isak is still building up his fitness after a disrupted pre-season. The Liverpool man came on as a substitute against Switzerland but couldn’t help his team turn it around.

Since his move to Anfield, Isak has struggled to make an impact. He is still searching for his first Premier League goal, with his only strike so far coming in the Carabao Cup.

He was back on the bench for Liverpool before the international break after missing the previous four games through injury.

Gyokeres has had more success since his move in the summer. The 27-year-old has scored four goals in his 10 Premier League appearances and another two in the Champions League.

He missed last week’s 2-2 draw with Sunderland with a muscle injury. The same problem has forced him to sit out the Sweden games.

Should they not be part of the summer’s World Cup, it will be a big blow personally to both players, who will have their eyes playing on the biggest stage for their nations. The clubs may, however, see it as a positive, with them instead having extra time to rest and prepare for the 2026/27 Premier League season instead of being in North America with their nation.

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