Sweden vs Poland World Cup Playoff Final 2026: Start Time, TV Channel & How to Watch
One match. One ticket. Everything on the line tonight.
Sweden host Poland at the Strawberry Arena in Solna. The winner earns the last European spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America. The loser goes home empty-handed.
Below you will find the start time in your time zone, every TV channel and live stream option, venue details, what is at stake, team news and our final prediction.
Quick Match Facts:
| Competition: | UEFA World Cup 2026 Playoff Final – Path B |
| Match: | Sweden vs Poland |
| Date: | Tuesday, March 31, 2026 |
| Kick-off: | 2:45 PM ET / 7:45 PM GMT / 8:45 PM CET |
| Venue: | Strawberry Arena, Solna, Stockholm |
| What’s at Stake: | Final spot in Group F with Netherlands, Japan and Tunisia |
What Time Does Sweden vs Poland Kick Off?
Kick-off is at 8:45 PM local time in Stockholm. Here is how that looks for fans across key markets:
| Time Zone | Kick-off Time |
|---|---|
| Eastern Time – USA (ET) | 2:45 PM |
| Central Time – USA (CT) | 1:45 PM |
| Pacific Time – USA (PT) | 11:45 AM |
| Eastern Time – Canada (ET) | 2:45 PM |
| GMT – United Kingdom | 7:45 PM |
| CET – Sweden and Poland | 8:45 PM |
| CET – Germany | 8:45 PM |
| AEST – Australia | 5:45 AM (Apr 1) |
The match runs 90 minutes. Extra time would push the finish to around 10:45 PM CET. Penalties could push it later. Clear your schedule now.
Where to Watch Sweden vs Poland on TV
United States
- ViX – Free with no subscription needed
- Fubo TV – Live with a Fubo subscription
United Kingdom
- Amazon Prime Video – Pay-per-view at £2.49
Sweden
- SVT – Free national broadcaster
- TV4 – Cable and satellite
Poland
- TVP – Free national broadcaster
- Polsat Sport – Pay-TV option
Rest of the World
- UEFA.tv – Available in select regions
- Check your local broadcaster app or website for confirmed rights in your country
How to Live Stream Sweden vs Poland Online
USA fans: Head to ViX. It is completely free and needs no sign-up. Fubo TV subscribers can also stream live through the Fubo app or website.
UK fans: Open Amazon Prime Video and go to Prime Video Sport. The match costs £2.49 on pay-per-view. No extra subscription is needed beyond a basic Prime account.
Sweden fans: Stream free on SVT Play. It is the official online home of SVT and needs no payment at all. TV4 Play works too for active TV4 subscribers.
Poland fans: TVP Sport streams the match free online. Go to the TVP website or download the TVP Sport app on your phone or tablet. Polsat Sport is the paid alternative for subscribers.
Fans abroad: Use your home country broadcaster app with a VPN. A VPN connects you back to your home region so you can access your usual stream from anywhere in the world.
Where is the Match Being Played?
The game takes place at the Strawberry Arena in Solna, just north of Stockholm. The stadium holds close to 50,000 fans and is the biggest football ground in Scandinavia.
Sweden have not lost to Poland at this venue since 1930. That is 96 years without a single home defeat against the Poles. Poland know they walk into a loud and hostile environment tonight.
What is at Stake?
The winner claims the last open spot in Group F at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Group F already contains Netherlands, Japan and Tunisia. Group F games take place across Mexico and Texas in the summer of 2026.
A win for Sweden ends an eight-year wait since their 2018 quarterfinal run. A win for Poland makes it three World Cup appearances in a row for the Eagles.
Road to the Final
Sweden beat Ukraine 3-1 in the semi-final on neutral ground in Valencia, Spain. Viktor Gyokeres scored all three goals in a dominant display. Sweden failed to win a single game in their qualifying group. None of that matters now. They are 90 minutes from North America.
Poland had a much harder path. They fell behind to Albania in Warsaw before Robert Lewandowski and Piotr Zielinski scored to flip the result to 2-1. It was not pretty but Poland showed exactly the kind of grit that wins knockout ties. The same pair scored when Poland beat Sweden 2-0 in the 2022 World Cup playoff final.
Key Players to Watch
Viktor Gyokeres (Sweden)
Gyokeres plays for Arsenal and is Sweden’s most dangerous player tonight. He went six qualifying matches without a goal then hit a hat-trick in the semi-final at the biggest moment. Sweden are also without Alexander Isak and Dejan Kulusevski through injury. Everything runs through Gyokeres.
Robert Lewandowski (Poland)
The Barcelona striker is 37 years old and this could be his last shot at a World Cup. Lewandowski is Poland’s all-time top scorer and captain. He scored in the semi-final against Albania and scored in the 2022 playoff final against Sweden. Do not write him off tonight.
Head-to-Head History
Poland beat Sweden 2-0 in the 2022 World Cup playoff final in Chorzow. Lewandowski and Zielinski scored that night. Both men are in the squad again and both scored in the semi-final last week.
Sweden hold a strong record at home. Poland have not won on Swedish soil since a 1930 friendly. Their last three visits to Solna ended in defeat: 2-0 in 1999, 3-0 in 2003 and 3-1 in 2004. Sweden also beat Poland 3-2 at EURO 2020.
History says Sweden win at home. Poland’s recent playoff record says something very different.
Our Prediction
Sweden have home advantage and Gyokeres in the best form of his international career. Poland have Lewandowski, playoff experience and the memory of beating Sweden in this exact situation four years ago.
This one is tight. Extra time is very possible. Penalties too.
We back Sweden to edge it on home soil tonight.
Our pick: Sweden 2-1 Poland
Tonight one nation books their flight to North America. The other waits four more years. Ninety minutes to decide everything. Do not miss it.
