Johanna Rytting Kaneryd and Kosovare Asllani are out with knee injuries. Fridolina Rolfö is pregnant.
But two important players who had been uncertain are available for the World Cup playoff against Lithuania: Nathalie Björn and Filippa Angeldahl.
“I am super excited”
Björn has just returned to Chelsea's back line after a long absence, while Real Madrid midfielder Filippa Angeldahl is in the squad despite reports of a muscle injury.
“Nathalie Björn has been available for selection in the last three matches and has more match minutes in her. It is extremely pleasing that Nathalie is back, she is super excited to get back to the national team,” says Sweden's national team coach Tony Gustavsson at Tuesday's squad announcement.
Angeldahl is more uncertain. Therefore, Gustavsson initially opts to use Hanna Lundkvist, of Manchester United, as a midfielder instead of a defender.
There have been question marks over Filippa until just the other day. She is in full training and available for selection but has played very little over the last three weeks. The person who has stepped in and played in her place during my time has been Hanna Lundkvist, says Tony Gustavsson.
Doubles match decides
Sweden's women's football team has had a tough time since Gustavsson took over as national team coach after Euro 2025. There have only been two wins in ten matches and in the World Cup qualifiers, Sweden finished third, forcing them into a playoff to reach the World Cup in Brazil next summer.
Tony Gustavsson admits that he has not yet succeeded in his attempts to build a new Swedish national team that can compete.
It has gone too fast. We have to slow down and look here and now, how can we get stability and short-term performance. Because now it is only about one thing: winning football matches.
Sweden will face Lithuania in Kaunas on October 9, with the return match in Stockholm four days later. The winner of the two-legged tie will face the Czech Republic or Scotland in a decisive playoff in November/December for a ticket to the World Cup.
Goalkeepers: Jennifer Falk, Häcken, Zecira Musovic, Malmö FF, Moa Edrud, Rosengård.
Backs: Bella Andersson, Real Madrid, Alice Bergström, Liverpool, Nathalie Björn, Chelsea, Smilla Holmberg, Arsenal, Amanda Ilestedt, Frankfurt, Elma Junttila Nelhage, Lyon, Amanda Nildén, Tottenham, Anna Sandberg, Manchester United.
Midfielders/strikers: Filippa Angeldahl, Real Madrid, Anna Anvegård, Häcken, Hanna Bennison, Frankfurt, Stina Blackstenius, Arsenal, Evelyn Ijeh, North Carolina, Monica Jusu Bah, Manchester United, Rosa Kafaji, London City, Hanna Lundkvist, Manchester United, Beata Olsson, Liverpool, Felicia Schröder, Real Madrid, Matilda Vinberg, Tottenham, Julia Zigiotti Olme, Manchester United.
