STOCKHOLM :Plans announced by the Swedish Football Association (SvFF) on Thursday for a new national football centre in a Stockholm suburb are as much about integration as innovation as they seek to rebuild following a disastrous World Cup qualifying campaign.
World Cup runners-up on home soil in 1958 and third in 1994, the men’s national team finished bottom of their qualifying group for the 2026 event and face a tricky playoff path if they are to reach the finals in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
They face Ukraine in a playoff semi-final in March.
Meanwhile, Sweden's women, always among the favourites in international competitions, are in danger of being swallowed up by the chasing pack, with England, Spain and Italy all making huge strides in recent years.
“In order for us to continue to compete on an international level, we need to create conditions for our players to be able to prepare properly,” SvFF head of football Kim Kallstrom told Reuters.
“We also need to have a home for Swedish football where everyone feels that this is where Swedish football starts.”
NEW PITCHES AT KISTA CAMPUS
The federation aims to build four grass pitches, one artificial pitch and an indoor pitch, as well as moving its offices to the new campus in Kista (pronounced "shee-sta"), around 12 km north-west of Stockholm's city hall.
For 43-year-old former Sweden midfielder Kallstrom, the development represents a chance to lay new foundations after recent struggles, particularly for the men’s senior team.
“We shouldn’t draw a nailed-on parallel there but if we look at this over a longer period of time I think that this will be a very vital and central piece in the continued development of Swedish football,” he said.
A detailed study awaits before the
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