Sweden national under-21 football team
| Nickname | Blågult (The Blue-Yellow) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Association | Svenska Fotbollförbundet (SvFF) | ||
| Confederation | UEFA (Europe) | ||
| Head coach | Daniel Bäckström | ||
| Captain | Roony Bardghji | ||
| Most caps | Oscar Hiljemark (37) | ||
| Top scorer | Carlos Strandberg Ola Toivonen (13) | ||
| |||
| First international | |||
| Denmark 3–2 Sweden (Esbjerg, Denmark; 22 June 1952) | |||
| Biggest win | |||
| Sweden 10–0 Armenia (Lublin, Poland; 13 October 2020) | |||
| Biggest defeat | |||
| Ukraine 6–0 Sweden (Kyiv, Ukraine; 31 May 2012) Sweden 0–6 Poland (Jönköping, Sweden; 14 October 2025) | |||
| UEFA U-21 Championship | |||
| Appearances | 9 (first in 1972) | ||
| Best result | Champions (2015) | ||
The Sweden national under-21 football team is the football team representing Sweden in competitions for under-21 year old players and is controlled by the Swedish Football Association. Primarily, it competes to qualify for the biennial UEFA European Under-21 Championship.
Sweden made their first European Under-21 Championship appearance in 1986. In 2015, Sweden became champions for the first time.[1] They finished second in 1992 and they also reached the semi-finals in 1990 and 2009.[2] Oscar Hiljemark is the most capped player for the Swedish U21 team, having played 37 caps between 2011 and 2015. Ola Toivonen and Carlos Strandberg are the top goalscorers for the Swedish U21 team, having scored 13 goals each.
Competitive record
Champions Runners-up Third place Fourth place Tournament held on home soil
UEFA European U-21 Championship
| UEFA European Under-21 Championship record | UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification record | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | |
| 1972 | Quarter-finals | 6th | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 2 | |
| 1974 | Did not qualify | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 5 | ||||||||
| 1976 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 6 | |||||||||
| 1978 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 8 | |||||||||
| 1980 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | |||||||||
| 1982 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | |||||||||
| 1984 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 4 | |||||||||
| 1986 | Quarter-finals | 6th | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 3 | |
| 1988 | Did not qualify | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 6 | ||||||||
| 1990 | Semi-finals | 3rd | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 2 | |
| 1992 | Runners-up | 2nd | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 17 | 3 | |
| 1994 | Did not qualify | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 21 | 8 | ||||||||
| 1996 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 15 | 4 | |||||||||
| 1998 | Quarter-finals | 6th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 30 | 6 | |
| 2000 | Did not qualify | 8 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 15 | ||||||||
| 2002 | 12 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 22 | 10 | |||||||||
| 2004 | Fourth place | 4th | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 7 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 20 | 14 | |
| 2006 | Did not qualify | 10 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 16 | 12 | ||||||||
| 2007 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 6 | |||||||||
| 2009 | Semi-finals | 3rd | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 7 | Qualified as hosts | ||||||
| 2011 | Did not qualify | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 17 | 10 | ||||||||
| 2013 | 12 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 20 | 14 | |||||||||
| 2015 | Champions | 1st | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 24 | 17 | |
| 2017 | Group stage | 9th | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 24 | 7 | |
| 2019 | Did not qualify | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 19 | 8 | ||||||||
| 2021 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 28 | 12 | |||||||||
| 2023 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 22 | 8 | |||||||||
| 2025 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 25 | 10 | |||||||||
| 2027 | To be determined | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 13 | ||||||||
| Total | 1 title | 9/28 | 34 | 14 | 9 | 11 | 50 | 40 | 211 | 114 | 41 | 56 | 406 | 223 | |
Players
Current squad
The following 21 players were called up for the 2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification matches against North Macedonia and Armenia on 13 and 18 November 2025, respectively.[3]
Caps and goals updated as of 18 November 2025, after the match against Armenia.
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GK | Elis Bishesari | 19 May 2005 | 10 | 0 | IFK Göteborg |
| 12 | GK | André Picornell | 3 April 2004 | 3 | 0 | Gil Vicente |
| 23 | GK | Viktor Andersson | 30 March 2004 | 2 | 0 | IFK Värnamo |
| 2 | DF | Hampus Skoglund | 1 March 2004 | 13 | 1 | Hammarby IF |
| 3 | DF | Bleon Kurtulus | 24 June 2007 | 7 | 0 | Halmstads BK |
| 4 | DF | Nils Zätterström | 29 March 2005 | 9 | 0 | Sheffield United |
| 5 | DF | Matteo Pérez Vinlöf | 18 December 2005 | 12 | 2 | Dinamo Zagreb |
| 13 | DF | Peter Amoran | 22 May 2004 | 4 | 1 | Cesena |
| 14 | DF | Noah Tolf | 13 August 2005 | 5 | 0 | IFK Göteborg |
| 15 | DF | Olle Samuelsson | 16 May 2004 | 2 | 0 | BK Häcken |
| 18 | DF | Felix Eriksson | 21 May 2004 | 2 | 0 | IFK Göteborg |
| 6 | MF | Markus Karlsson | 20 January 2004 | 11 | 0 | Hammarby IF |
| 8 | MF | Lukas Björklund (vice-captain) | 16 February 2004 | 12 | 2 | IF Brommapojkarna |
| 17 | MF | Ludwig Małachowski Thorell | 25 February 2005 | 4 | 0 | Mjällby AIF |
| 19 | MF | Marcus Rafferty | 1 October 2004 | 3 | 0 | Degerfors IF |
| 20 | MF | Jardell Kanga | 13 December 2005 | 3 | 0 | Ilves |
| 7 | FW | Alieu Njie | 14 May 2005 | 4 | 0 | Torino |
| 9 | FW | Richie Omorowa | 30 March 2004 | 11 | 5 | Degerfors IF |
| 10 | FW | Jonah Kusi-Asare | 4 July 2007 | 10 | 1 | Fulham |
| 11 | FW | Momodou Sonko | 31 January 2005 | 13 | 3 | Gent |
| 16 | FW | Gottfrid Rapp | 18 August 2005 | 5 | 0 | IF Elfsborg |
Recent call-ups
The following 32 players, born in 2004 or later, have previously been called up to the squad.
| Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Simon Eriksson | 24 April 2006 | 0 | 0 | IF Elfsborg | v. Poland, 14 October 2025 |
| GK | Filip Sidklev | 12 March 2005 | 2 | 0 | Al Bidda | v. Republic of Ireland, 17 November 2024 |
| DF | Genesis Antwi | 11 May 2007 | 3 | 0 | Chelsea | v. Armenia, 18 November 2025 WD |
| DF | Fredrik Nissen | 28 March 2005 | 0 | 0 | AIK | v. Armenia, 18 November 2025 WD |
| DF | Elison Makolli | 10 January 2005 | 4 | 0 | AaB | v. Poland, 14 October 2025 |
| DF | Theo Bergvall | 21 September 2004 | 1 | 0 | Djurgårdens IF | v. Poland, 14 October 2025 |
| DF | Jonas Rouhi | 7 January 2004 | 15 | 1 | Juventus | v. Montenegro, 9 September 2025 |
| DF | Malcolm Jeng | 9 March 2005 | 3 | 0 | Feyenoord | v. Croatia, 10 June 2025 |
| DF | John Mellberg | 30 July 2006 | 1 | 0 | Red Bull Salzburg | v. Croatia, 10 June 2025 WD |
| DF | Moutaz Neffati TUN | 4 September 2004 | 1 | 0 | IFK Norrköping | v. Croatia, 10 June 2025 |
| MF | Amin Boudri | 29 September 2004 | 9 | 1 | GAIS | v. Armenia, 18 November 2025 WD |
| MF | Williot Swedberg | 1 February 2004 | 11 | 2 | Celta Vigo | v. Poland, 14 October 2025 |
| MF | Adrian Skogmar | 23 November 2005 | 2 | 0 | Malmö FF | v. Poland, 14 October 2025 WD |
| MF | Pontus Dahbo | 11 October 2005 | 6 | 0 | BK Häcken | v. Croatia, 10 June 2025 |
| MF | Wilmer Odefalk | 21 November 2004 | 6 | 0 | Pafos | v. Croatia, 10 June 2025 |
| MF | Isak Alemayehu | 11 October 2006 | 1 | 0 | Queens Park Rangers | v. Croatia, 10 June 2025 |
| MF | Lukas Kjellnäs | 20 June 2004 | 2 | 0 | Helsingborgs IF | v. Wales, 23 March 2025 |
| MF | Zakaria Loukili | 25 January 2006 | 2 | 0 | Varbergs BoIS | v. Wales, 23 March 2025 |
| MF | Demirel Hodžić | 8 March 2005 | 2 | 0 | Milan Futuro | v. Republic of Ireland, 17 November 2024 |
| MF | Lucas Bergvall | 2 February 2006 | 5 | 1 | Tottenham Hotspur | v. Croatia, 11 June 2024 WD |
| MF | Hugo Larsson | 27 June 2004 | 3 | 1 | Eintracht Frankfurt | v. North Macedonia, 8 September 2023 |
| FW | Isak Brusberg | 5 September 2006 | 0 | 0 | BK Häcken | v. Armenia, 18 November 2025 WD |
| FW | Leo Östman | 15 March 2006 | 0 | 0 | IF Elfsborg | v. Armenia, 18 November 2025 WD |
| FW | Amar Fatah | 19 February 2004 | 7 | 0 | Dundee United | v. Poland, 14 October 2025 WD |
| FW | Taha Ayari | 10 May 2005 | 2 | 0 | AIK | v. Poland, 14 October 2025 |
| FW | Roony Bardghji (captain) | 15 November 2005 | 12 | 3 | Barcelona | v. Montenegro, 9 September 2025 |
| FW | Jeremy Agbonifo | 24 October 2005 | 8 | 2 | Basel | v. Montenegro, 9 September 2025 |
| FW | Victor Andersson | 22 October 2004 | 2 | 0 | AIK | v. Croatia, 10 June 2025 WD |
| FW | Kenan Bilalović | 22 June 2005 | 2 | 0 | Aberdeen | v. Croatia, 10 June 2025 |
| FW | Elias Pihlström | 31 August 2006 | 2 | 0 | Lugano | v. Wales, 23 March 2025 |
| FW | August Ljungberg | 13 May 2005 | 1 | 0 | IK Sirius | v. Republic of Ireland, 17 November 2024 |
| FW | Deniz Gül TUR | 2 July 2004 | 6 | 2 | Porto | v. Netherlands, 14 October 2024 |
| ||||||
Previous squads
- 1998 UEFA European Under-21 Championship squad
- 2004 UEFA European Under-21 Championship squad
- 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship squad
- 2015 UEFA European Under-21 Championship squad
- 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship squad
Players with most caps and goals
Updated as of 7 June 2018. Note that the matches played by Sweden Olympic football team in 1992 and 2016 are included here, as the Swedish Football Association recognizes them as Under-21 matches.
Top 10 most capped players
| # | Player | Career | Caps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oscar Hiljemark | 2011–2015 | 37 | 4 |
| 2 | Alexander Farnerud | 2002–2006 | 36 | 12 |
| 3 | Jonny Rödlund | 1990–1993 | 35 | 11 |
| 4 | Simon Tibbling | 2012–2017 | 33 | 2 |
| 5 | Magnus Johansson | 1990–1993 | 32 | 0 |
| 6 | Mikael Dorsin | 2000–2004 | 31 | 1 |
| Mattias Bjärsmyr | 2005–2009 | 31 | 0 | |
| 8 | Johan Elmander | 2000–2004 | 30 | 12 |
| Tommy Jönsson | 1995–1998 | 30 | 2 | |
| Sven Andersson | 1981–1986 | 30 | 0 |
Top 10 goalscorers
| # | Player | Career | Goals | Caps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carlos Strandberg | 2015–2018 | 13 | 18 |
| Ola Toivonen | 2006–2009 | 13 | 28 | |
| 3 | Pär-Olof Ohlsson | 1972–1977 | 12 | 19 |
| John Guidetti | 2010–2015 | 12 | 23 | |
| Johan Elmander | 2000–2004 | 12 | 30 | |
| Alexander Farnerud | 2002–2006 | 12 | 36 | |
| 7 | Mikael Ishak | 2012–2016 | 11 | 27 |
| Jonny Rödlund | 1990–1993 | 11 | 35 | |
| 9 | Niklas Skoog | 1994–1995 | 10 | 14 |
| 10 | Tord Grip | 1958–1961 | 9 | 10 |
| Lasse Larsson | 1982–1987 | 9 | 10 |
See also
- Sweden men's national football team
- Sweden Olympic football team
- Sweden men's national under-19 football team
- Sweden men's national under-17 football team
- Sweden national football B team (defunct)
- UEFA European Under-21 Championship
References
- ^ "EM-guld efter straffdrama!" (in Swedish). Svenskfotboll. Archived from the original on 1 July 2015. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
- ^ "EM-sorti på straffar efter mirakelvändning" (in Swedish). Svenskfotboll. Archived from the original on 29 June 2009. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
- ^ "U21-landslagets novembertrupp" (in Swedish). Swedish Football Association. 5 November 2025. Retrieved 5 November 2025.