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The world's biggest football spectacle kicks off on June 11th, with Sweden delighted to have qualified at the last minute. Despite the time zone issues, there are plenty of options for watching the games – from TV to public screenings.
The Fifa 2026 World Cup will be played in 16 cities across the host countries – Canada, Mexico and the United States – until the final on July 19th.
Due to the time zones, it will be tricky to watch all the matches unless you're prepared to stay up late or get up early, but they will be screened on Swedish television, albeit not all for free.
In Sweden, coverage of the 104 games of the World Cup is split between two broadcasters: free-to-watch public broadcaster SVT and commercial broadcaster TV4. If you own an old-fashioned television, chances are you have access to TV4, but if you don't you can sign up to stream their games online for (right now) 224,50 kronor a month for three months.
SVT's games will be broadcast on both regular television and for free via SVT Play.
Will any bars be showing the matches?
We're not going to list every single bar in Sweden which will be showing the matches, but thankfully, someone else has already done that for us, so here's a handy link.
In sum, sports bars and English or Irish pubs are likely to be showing the World Cup.
If in doubt, the O'Leary's chain of sports bars found in many Swedish towns and cities is usually a surefire bet for watching the World Cup as well as many other sporting events.
Sweden normally has strict alcohol laws which affect the hours pubs are allowed to keep open, but many municipalities have given pubs a special licence to extend their opening hours during the World Cup, so that they can show even the early-morning matches.
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Will there be any public screenings?
In Stockholm, some of the matches will be shown on big screens at Kungsträdgården, Norra Bantorget, Pilparken in Tensta, Kvarnbacka bollplan in Kista/Husby, Bredängsparken.
In Malmö, head to Lördagsplan opposite the city library for some matches on the big screen. This is the only public screening organised by the city council in the southern Swedish city.
Gothenburg will show some of the matches on big screens at Ullevi Plaza and the Ullevi football stadium, as well as Blå stället in Angered, Frölunda kulturhus, Bergsjöns kulturhus, Stadsbiblioteket at Götaplatsen, and the final will be shown at Gårdstensdalen.
As far as The Local can tell, entrance is free to all the public screenings, including Ullevi. Note that the venues won't be showing all the matches, so give it a google before you go.
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What are Sweden's chances?
Every Swede dreams of a re-run of the mythical "summer of '94" now that the World Cup is back on American soil. It was a summer when the sun never set, the rain never fell, you were at your peak, all the girls or boys liked you, and Sweden won the bronze medal.
Folks, it ain't gonna happen.
According to Bettingexpert's supercomputer BETSiE, Sweden enjoys a 75 percent chance of progressing from the group stage. However, it puts the chances that it will reach the semis at 5.2 percent and that it will win the whole tournament at a measly 0.5 percent.
But best of luck to Graham Potter, the British football coach in charge of the Sweden national team, and his merry men, who will play their first game against Tunisia at 4am on June 15th. Or as you say in Swedish: lycka till!
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Source: The Local Sweden
