Poland enters Tuesday’s World Cup playoff final against Sweden aiming to break a 96-year winless run on Swedish soil. The match at Solna’s sold-out Strawberry Arena determines who advances to the tournament in North America.
Since a 3-0 friendly win in Stockholm in 1930, Poland has suffered eight losses and two draws in Sweden. Coach Jan Urban dismissed the historical drought as irrelevant, calling Tuesday’s clash a 'completely different encounter.'
Sweden, under new coach Graham Potter, arrives in form after a 3-1 win over Ukraine. Poland countered with a 2-1 playoff win over Albania and a 2-0 home triumph over Sweden in the 2022 qualifiers.
The game may mark the end of an era. Captain Robert Lewandowski, 37, has hinted at retirement, saying he is preparing for life beyond football. Midfielder Piotr Zielinski, 31, remains central to Poland’s attack.
Failure to qualify would trigger a national team overhaul, closing the chapter on a generation that made Poland a World Cup staple.