His performance between the posts against Japan contributed greatly to Sweden reaching the round of 16.
On Tuesday, France awaits, world champions in 2018 and finalist in 2022 - and one of the main favorites to go all the way in this year's championship.
Just in time, national team coach Graham Potter seems to have finally decided on a first-choice goalkeeper.
The occasional substitution among the outfield players in a starting eleven doesn't raise many eyebrows. Making a goalkeeper change like Potter did, removing Kristoffer Nordfeldt before a crucial group stage match in a World Cup, was more surprising.
Want to be in the present
Did you know you were going to start or did it come as a surprise?
These are things you can't control, and putting too much thought into them is unnecessary. The only thing you can do is be in the present and do the best you can, says Jacob Widell Zetterström.
He then highlights his goalkeeper colleagues Viktor Johansson and Nordfeldt.
We have a very tight and nice goalkeeping group. We've been together for a long time now, including previous gatherings. Regardless of whether it's been me, Viktor or "Kribba" who has played, I feel that there has been wonderfully nice support from the others. You work so hard and so closely together that supporting each other becomes inevitable.
It's not so fun when you go onto the pitch and don't do it, says Widell Zetterström.
Lots of greetings
Emails and text messages came in a torrent to the national team goalkeeper's mobile phone after the strong World Cup debut against Japan.
Many nice greetings from all directions. Of course it's a great experience to be a part of and many are happy and proud. It takes time to thank everyone who got in touch.
Mom, siblings and Paul Clements, the goalkeeping coach at Derby, were on site at Dallas Stadium.
It meant a little extra.
Not least because Clements showed up.
He cares incredibly much and has meant a lot to me on and off the field.
Widell Zetterström is looking forward to competing with some of the world's top attacking players.
That's definitely what you want, otherwise I would probably have stayed in Division 2. You always want to face the best to be at that level yourself. That's one reason why it's so fantastic to be here.
