Football star Alexander Isak is currently not training with his club team Newcastle and has not yet played in the Premier League this season, but the 25-year-old is selected for the national team's World Championship qualification start away against Slovenia and Kosovo in early September.
Newcastle cannot, however, prevent Isak from being selected for the national team.
"Do not know what happens"
No, they cannot stop him. First and foremost, it is not an optimal situation. Perfect would be if the player trains and plays with the club. But Alex is a very professional player, he works hard and is a "game changer", says national team coach Jon Dahl Tomasson when he presents the squad.
The striker wants to make a transfer to the reigning Premier League champion Liverpool. According to information to The Guardian, Isak is said to have received an offer of a salary increase to stay at least another season in Newcastle, but the 25-year-old is said to have declined.
Tomasson is cautious when commenting on the situation.
It is very difficult to have a clear opinion about it. We do not know what happens in the club. I think we should be very cautious here to draw hasty conclusions. No one knows the overall picture. But one thing I can guarantee: He is a fantastic guy, he says.
"Very professional"
Isak wrote a statement on Instagram some time ago that Newcastle had broken promises, but the club has denied that he was promised to leave the club this summer.
The Swede was not present at Newcastle's training camp in Asia earlier in the summer. He has trained on his own during the pre-season and also traveled to Spain for individual training with his old club Real Sociedad. He has not been selected for Newcastle's two opening Premier League matches.
I have talked to Alex several times, he is strong mentally. But he is very professional, with his quality he can be a "game changer" for us. But can he play 90 minutes? No. Not a chance.
Sweden starts the World Championship qualification against Slovenia on September 5 and takes on Kosovo on September 8. Both matches are played away.
The Swedish national team's squad for the World Championship qualification matches away against Slovenia and Kosovo:
Goalkeepers: Viktor Johansson, Stoke, Kristoffer Nordfeldt, AIK, Robin Olsen, Malmö FF.
Defenders: Samuel Dahl, Benfica, Gabriel Gudmundsson, Leeds, Hjalmar Ekdal, Burnley, Isak Hien, Atalanta, Ken Sema, Pafos, Daniel Svensson, Dortmund, Emil Krafth, Newcastle, Gabriel Lagerbielke, Braga.
Midfielders/forwards: Yasin Ayari, Brighton, Alexander Bernhardsson, Kiel, Anthony Elanga, Newcastle, Jesper Karlström, Udinese, Hugo Larsson, Eintracht Frankfurt, Benjamin Nygren, Celtic, Anton Salétros, AIK, Jordan Larsson, Copenhagen, Alexander Isak, Newcastle, Lucas Bergvall, Tottenham, Niclas Eliasson, AEK Athens, Viktor Gyökeres, Arsenal, Sebastian Nanasi, Strasbourg.
The qualification for the World Championship 2026 is played for the Swedish part during the autumn of 2025. The winner of each of the twelve qualifying groups is directly qualified for the World Championship finals in the USA, Canada, and Mexico 2026.
An additional four places in the World Championship finals are allocated after a playoff where the twelve group runners-up in the World Championship qualification, together with the four highest-ranked group winners from the Nations League 2024 (of the remaining teams), participate.
The playoff is decided in the spring of 2026 in four groups where semifinals and finals are played in single matches.
Sweden's opponents in the qualifying group are Slovenia, Kosovo, and Switzerland.
Sweden's qualifying matches:
September 5, Slovenia-Sweden
September 8, Kosovo-Sweden
October 10, Sweden-Switzerland
October 13, Sweden-Kosovo
November 15, Switzerland-Sweden
November 18, Sweden-Slovenia
