Blackstenius winner earns Sweden vital qualifying points
Sweden beat Serbia 1–0 at Strawberry Arena.
Sweden defeated Serbia 1–0 at Strawberry Arena on 18 April 2026 to strengthen their position in Women’s World Cup qualifying. Captain Stina Blackstenius scored the only goal five minutes into the second half.
The hosts created opportunities before the break but struggled to turn them into goals. Blackstenius hit the post, while a Filippa Angeldahl effort struck the crossbar and post before staying out. The score remained level at half-time.
Blackstenius finally broke the deadlock in the 50th minute, giving Sweden the lead they needed after losing their previous qualifier against Denmark. Sweden then protected the narrow advantage and completed the match with a clean sheet.
Beata Olsson made her senior international debut late in the game, adding another milestone to the afternoon.
Denmark and Italy drew 0–0 in the group’s other match. That result, combined with Sweden’s victory, left the Swedish side second in the standings, one point behind Denmark, ahead of the final fixtures against Denmark and Italy.
