World Cup 2026: These 6 players of African descent included in Sweden's squad

Graham Potter, head coach of Sweden, has unveiled the 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup.

The “Blågult” will compete in Group F, alongside Tunisia, the Netherlands, and Japan.

The Scandinavian side will be aiming to go as far as possible in the tournament, perhaps even repeating their remarkable 1958 run to the final.

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Let's focus on the six players of African origin who will represent Sweden at the World Cup.

Isak Hien (Ghana)

Born in Sweden to Ghanaian parents, the Atlanta defender is eligible to play for both national teams.

With the Swedish national side, he has played 27 matches, registering just one assist, which came against Estonia in the UEFA Nations League C.

This season, he featured in 38 games for the Lombard club, scoring once against Genoa in Serie A.

Ken Sema (DR Congo)

The left-back from Cypriot club Pafos FC is eligible to wear the colors of both the “Léopards” and the “Blågult.”

He has earned 32 caps for Sweden, recording 5 goals and 2 assists.

The Norrköping native played 35 matches this season, finding the net twice.

Yasin Ayari (Tunisia)

Of Tunisian descent, the Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder opted to represent Sweden on the international stage.

In 19 appearances for the Scandinavians, he has netted 3 goals and provided 2 assists.

He also contributed to 7 goals in 31 matches for his English club.

Taha Ali (Somalia)

Born in Sweden to Somali parents, the Malmö FF winger is the surprise inclusion in the “Blågult” World Cup squad.

He has just one international appearance to his name, which came against Estonia.

This season, he's played 23 matches, scoring 5 goals and providing 3 assists.

Anthony Elanga (Cameroon)

Eligible to represent both the Scandinavians and the Indomitable Lions, he chose to play for the European side.

He has scored 6 goals in 28 international matches, including a crucial strike against Poland in the World Cup play-off final.

He featured in 47 games for Newcastle United, tallying 3 goals and 2 assists.

Alexander Isak (Eritrea)

Born in Sweden to Eritrean parents, he chose to represent the Scandinavian nation on the international stage.

In 65 matches for Sweden, he has scored 16 goals and provided 7 assists.

Signed by Liverpool in the last summer transfer window, he has scored just 4 goals in 22 appearances so far.

Imed Ben Amara |

Editorar, fr

Imed Ben Amara - bilingual sports writer and web editor with experience in football content creation. Since 2021, he has contributed to Foot Africa, providing news coverage and analysis.

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