Sweden's football team advanced to the World Cup playoff final after a 3-1 win over Ukraine in Valencia, with Viktor Gyökeres scoring a hat-trick. Poland came from behind to beat Albania 2-1, and the match will be played on Tuesday at Strawberry Arena in Solna. The winner qualifies for the World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
Sweden defeated Ukraine 3-1 in the playoff semi-final in Valencia and is now one match from the 2026 World Cup. Viktor Gyökeres scored the hat-trick: 1-0 in the sixth minute after a cross from Benjamin Nygren via Anthony Elanga, 2-0 early in the second half from Kristoffer Nordfeldt's long kick, and 3-0 from the penalty in the 73rd minute after being fouled by goalkeeper Anatolij Trubin. Matvij Ponomarenko pulled one back late for Ukraine to make it 3-1. Isak Hien was forced off injured at the end of the first half and replaced by Carl Starfelt. Gabriel Gudmundsson took a knee knock but expects to be fit for the final. Coach Graham Potter praised Gyökeres: 'Viktor was world-class. When you have a player like that, you have a chance.' Gyökeres told SVT Sport: 'We showed today that we have all the possibilities to reach the World Cup.' Meanwhile, Poland came from behind to beat Albania 2-1: Arbër Hoxha 1-0 in the 42nd, Robert Lewandowski equalized in the 63rd, Piotr Zielinski sealed it in the 73rd. The final is on Tuesday, March 31, in Solna. Poland eliminated Sweden in the 2022 World Cup playoff.
