World Cup

2026-03-31 - Sweden vs Poland

A Sports Betting Pick by Auls

Sweden v Poland
Football: UEFA World Cup Qualifier
Tuesday 31st March 2026 - Kick Off 7:45pm
This game is live on TV

Sweden

The opening World Cup Play Off game had the hallmarks of being a really awkward fixture for Sweden, but they proved to be comfortable 3-1 winners over Ukraine. That means they can return home to host the last of those Play Off games in Sweden's bid to return to the World Cup for the first time since reaching the Quarter Final in 2018.

It is the sole appearance Sweden have made in the World Cup Finals since 2006 having been a regular nation to reach that stage from 1990. Six consecutive appearances at the European Championships ended in the summer of 2024, while Sweden finished bottom of the World Cup Qualifying Group with just 2 points secured from six matches played. The team finished top of a League C Nations League Group and that has given Sweden a reprieve in the bid to reach the World Cup Finals.

Sweden had lost 4 World Cup Qualifiers in a row before the draw against Slovenia, but they have finally produced another win on Thursday in the victory over Ukraine. The side had won 5 home games in a row in Nations League and International Friendly settings, but Sweden suffered 2 losses and a draw when hosting Switzerland, Kosovo and Slovenia in the World Cup Qualifying Group.

Isak Hien and Gabriel Gudmundsson are both doubts.

Poland

A transitional period in Polish Football has become clear by the recent results of the national team, but they have still regularly found a way to reach major international tournament Finals. The last time they missed out was back in the 2014 World Cup, but Poland have made it through to the World Cup Play Offs by finishing 2nd in the World Cup Qualifying Group behind Netherlands.

Last year Poland were Relegated from League A of the Nations League, which is perhaps another sign of the current transition of this nation. They will be playing in League B of that competition later in the year, but Poland were able to win 5 of 8 World Cup Qualifiers in the Group Stage before coming from behind to beat Albania in the first Play Off tie.

Poland's win over Albania means they have only been beaten in 1 of the last 11 games played since the conclusion of the Nations League in which they had really struggled. They had lost 3 away competitive fixtures in succession, but Poland ended that run with a draw in Netherlands followed by wins in Lithuania and Malta to ensure a Play Off spot was secured.

Head to Head

Poland beat Sweden 2-0 at home in the 2022 World Cup Play Off to Qualify for the tournament in Qatar.

They also met at the delayed Euro 2020 Finals in the Group Stage and it was Sweden who edged past Poland 3-2 in that fixture having blown a two goal lead.

Sweden have beaten Poland 3 times in a row at home, but have not hosted them since 2004.

Prediction

There is going to be a lot of pressure on both sets of players in this World Cup Play Off with the winning team joining Netherlands, Japan and Tunisia in a tough Group F at the Finals in June.

Out of the two teams, Poland will feel they are more deserving of the Play Off spot having finished 2nd in the World Cup Qualifying Group, but that will count for very little on Tuesday evening.

Graham Potter has given his Sweden team a boost since being surprisingly appointed as manager of the national team after being Sacked by West Ham United. He does have a strong knowledge of Swedish Football in his time managing Ostersund and Sweden were quite impressive in the final third in the win over Ukraine.

Poland were not nearly as impressive when beating Albania, but they did show plenty of heart to come from a goal behind and win that Play Off game. Backing it up will not be easy away from home, but there is plenty of experience in the Poland team from the 2-0 victory over Sweden in the last of the 2022 World Cup Play Off ties played.

That victory was secured at home though and Sweden may have a narrow edge here, even if some key players are set to miss out.

The first goal is going to be huge to the eventual outcome, but the edge has to be with Sweden if they can replicate the performance from Thursday night. Being back at home offers them a stronger chance of being able to do that and Sweden may just do enough inside ninety minutes to progress.