Potter Named Sweden Head Coach to Revive World Cup Hopes

‘Humbled but Inspired’ – Potter Named Sweden Boss

Graham Potter has been appointed as the new head coach of Sweden, marking a surprise return to international football for the former Chelsea and West Ham manager.

The 50-year-old Englishman has signed a short-term deal with the Swedish Football Association to guide the national team through the rest of their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign.

“I am very humbled by the assignment, but also incredibly inspired,” said Potter.

“Sweden has fantastic players who deliver in the world’s best leagues. My job will be to create the conditions for us to perform as a team and reach the World Cup next summer.”

Sweden’s World Cup Struggles

Sweden’s qualification hopes took a huge hit after a 1-0 defeat to Kosovo on 13 October, leading to the dismissal of head coach Jon Dahl Tomasson. That result ended their chances of automatic qualification from Group B.

However, thanks to their success in the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League, where they topped their group, Sweden still has a potential path to the play-offs—keeping their World Cup dream alive.

Potter Returns to Familiar Territory

Despite a difficult spell at West Ham, where he won only six of 23 matches before being sacked in September, Potter remains highly regarded in Sweden.

He made his managerial name with Östersunds FK, where he guided the club from the fourth tier to the Allsvenskan with three promotions in four seasons, and famously won the Swedish Cup in 2017. He also led the team to the Europa League knockout stages.

Potter’s Managerial Journey

Potter enjoyed strong spells at Swansea City and Brighton & Hove Albion, earning praise for his tactical intelligence and player development.

He was handed the reins at Chelsea in September 2022, but his tenure at Stamford Bridge lasted just seven months, as inconsistent form led to his departure.

His most recent stint at West Ham United ended in September 2025 after a poor start to the season left the club in the relegation zone.

What’s Next for Sweden and Potter?

Potter now faces the challenge of galvanizing a squad low on confidence, but full of individual talent playing across Europe’s top leagues.

Sweden will be aiming to secure a play-off spot via the Nations League route and qualify for their first World Cup since 2018.

His appointment is being seen as a calculated gamble, banking on his previous success in Sweden and his ability to rebuild team identity in a short span of time.