+ The Favorites
Malmö FF. The Scanian top team was superior last year and won the league with an eleven-point margin ahead of Hammarby and AIK. MFF, trained by Henrik Rydström, are favorites to become Swedish champions again this year, which would be their third consecutive title and 25th overall, according to both media tips and bookmakers' odds.
+ Classic Newcomers
Östers IF and Degerfors IF. The Smålanders, who have won four Swedish Championships, the last one in 1981, are back in the top league for the first time since 2013 when the team finished second to last. The Värmlanders are back directly after being relegated from the top league as second to last in 2023 and winning Superettan last year.
However, media and bookmakers believe that both newcomers will have a tough time this year. Together with IFK Värnamo and Halmstads BK, the four teams are expected to risk ending up in 16th and 15th place, which means playing in Superettan in 2026, or 14th place, qualifying.
+ Homecoming Stars
Malmö FF's Icelandic attacking star Arnór Sigurdsson, 25, who has been in the Championship team Blackburn since leaving IFK Norrköping in May 2023.
Elfsborg midfielder Simon Olsson, 27, who has played in Heerenveen for the past three years and made three international appearances for Sweden last year.
Brommapojkarna's attacking veteran Nabil Bahoui, 34, became an international player during his first stint in AIK (2013–2015) and has been playing in Qatar and Iran in recent years.
+ Will "Blåvitt" Wake Up?
IFK Göteborg, with 18 Swedish Championships, has been a bottom team and finished 13th the past two years. Now, the sporting hopes are higher. "Blåvitt" won their group in the Swedish Cup and threatened Malmö FF on their home ground in the semifinal, losing 2–3 after extra time. Off the pitch, the club's staff has been subjected to threats and hate. Sportingly, it seems to have woken up under coach Stefan Billborn's leadership.
+ Arena Clearance
The games will be played at Finnvedsvallen again this year. Värnamo's home arena – which has been neglected and had grass problems – has had a dispensation since the team became top-flight in 2022. On Friday, the Swedish Football Association gave clearance for play in Monday's premiere against Sirius.
+ The Premiere Round
Saturday: Djurgården–Malmö FF (3:00 PM), BK Häcken–Brommapojkarna (5:30 PM). Sunday: Elfsborg–Mjällby, Hammarby–IFK Göteborg (both 2:00 PM), Halmstad–Degerfors, IFK Norrköping–Öster (both 4:30 PM). Monday: IFK Värnamo–Sirius (7:00 PM), Gais–AIK (7:10 PM).
