Overview
- Sweden, which beat Poland 3-2 on Tuesday on a late Viktor Gyökeres strike, joins Group F with the Netherlands, Japan and Tunisia and opens against the Dutch on June 20 in Houston.
- Bosnia and Herzegovina ousted Italy on penalties in Zenica after extra time, with Esmir Bajraktarevic converting the winner to secure the country’s first World Cup since 2014.
- The defeat leaves Italy out of the World Cup for a third straight tournament, extending a run of playoff failures that also derailed bids in 2018 and 2022.
- Bosnia will face Canada, Switzerland and Qatar, starting in Toronto before later group matches in Los Angeles and Seattle.
- Sweden reached the playoffs despite finishing last in its qualifying group with two points because UEFA awards playoff spots to top Nations League performers, turning a poor campaign into a lifeline.