World Cup: Sweden’s Viktor Gyökeres relishing knockout clash against Arsenal teammate Saliba
By Luke Oluoch, June 29, 2026Sweden’s attacking talisman Viktor Gyökeres has stated that he is looking forward to going toe-to-toe with his Arsenal teammate William Saliba.
The two Premier League champions are set to face off in a high-stakes 2026 World Cup Round of 32 fixture on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, at the New York-New Jersey Stadium.
“I am looking forward to seeing him and playing against him. It will be fun,” Gyökeres stated.
High-flying France
The striker, who found the back of the net in Graham Potter’s side’s emphatic 5-1 victory over Tunisia, remains bullish about his country’s chances against the former world champions.
However, he acknowledged that Sweden will need a highly disciplined defensive approach coupled with a ruthless attack, which he spearheads alongside Alexander Isak, to stand any chance of eliminating the tournament favourites.
France comfortably topped their group, maintaining a perfect record anchored by wins against nations like Norway. Iraq and Senegal.
On their part, Sweden overcame an early defeat to the Netherlands to secure knockout qualification, bouncing back with a last-gasp draw against Japan to advance as one of the best third-placed teams.
While the tournament rankings place them as clear underdogs for the clash, Gyökeres firmly believes they are capable of springing a massive upset.
“We are confident, and we believe in our capabilities. We have seen in this tournament that you can win games even against the best teams. We might be the underdogs, but we believe we can do it,” he added.
The highly anticipated encounter will kick off at midnight with Dutch referee Danny Makkelie overseeing the affairs as European rivals renew their rivalry on the global stage.