Hugo Larsson will not represent Sweden at this summer's World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico after being excluded from coach Graham Potter's 26-man squad announcement on Tuesday. The Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder, aged 21, received the news directly and is understood to be devastated by the decision, having been a consistent presence in recent Swedish training camps.
Larsson's omission marks a significant blow for the young talent, who has struggled to replicate his breakthrough form from the previous campaign. Since returning from a muscle injury that sidelined him in late 2025, the midfielder has found opportunities limited both at club and international level. At Frankfurt, he has managed only two goals and three assists across 34 competitive matches this season under managers Albert Riera and his predecessor Dino Toppmöller. His international record tells a similar story: twelve caps without a single goal or assist.
Limited Playing Time in Qualifying
A telling detail in Larsson's World Cup snub came during Sweden's qualifying campaign. Despite being included in the squad, he failed to feature in either of the playoff matches against Ukraine and Poland last March. His last international appearance came in September 2025 during a 2-0 qualifying defeat to Kosovo, after which injury derailed his momentum heading into this crucial tournament.
Potter's squad will also be without other notable absences. Dejan Kulusevski of Tottenham Hotspur misses out due to recovering from knee surgery that kept him sidelined for the entire season, while Roony Bardghji of Barcelona was also excluded. The Swedish Football Association's selections now set the tone for the tournament, with Potter needing to balance experience with fresh talent as Sweden prepares for the summer competition.
