Viktor Gyökeres Leads Sweden as World Cup Countdown Intensifies

Viktor Gyökeres has carried his club form straight into international duty, striking again as Sweden wrapped up their 2026 World Cup preparations with a frantic 2-2 draw against Greece in Stockholm.

The Swedish forward, so ruthless in open play all season, reminded everyone he can hurt teams from dead balls as well. With Sweden trailing in the second half, he stood over a free-kick and bent it beyond the wall, curling into the corner to drag his country back into the contest.

It had been Greece who landed the first blow. Liverpool defender Kostas Tsimikas arrived from the left and opened the scoring for the visitors, silencing the home crowd and briefly puncturing the feel-good mood around Sweden’s send-off.

Gyökeres’ equaliser reignited it. The goal shifted the tempo, Sweden suddenly playing on the front foot, and the pressure told when Gustaf Nilsson struck to put the hosts 2-1 up as the game moved towards stoppage time.

They were seconds from signing off with a win. Instead, Greece found one last punch. Deep into the 95th minute, Giorgos Masouras stole in to level, denying Sweden victory but not the sense that their attack – and Gyökeres in particular – is ready for the biggest stage.

Merino wears the armband as Spain held in A Coruña

Across the continent in A Coruña, Spain also said goodbye to their home crowd before flying out to the World Cup, drawing 1-1 with fellow qualifiers Iraq.

La Roja started with control and, crucially, incision. Ferran Torres broke the deadlock, finishing after a neat set-up from Dani Olmo as Spain’s familiar patterns finally sliced through the Iraqi back line.

The response came from distance and from nowhere. Merchas Doski caught goalkeeper Joan Garcia off guard, levelling the game and briefly draining the noise inside the stadium. Spain pushed, recycled possession, probed the spaces, but Iraq held firm.

The second half turned into a test of patience and rhythm. On 68 minutes, Mikel Merino entered the fray for Alex Baena. By the closing stages, the midfielder had taken the captain’s armband, a symbolic nod to his growing status within this Spain squad, even on a night when the score refused to budge.

Spain now leave home soil behind and head to Mexico for their final tune-up, a meeting with Peru in Puebla that will offer one last chance to sharpen the edges before the real thing begins.

O’Neill’s Northern Ireland debut hints at what’s coming

Away from the World Cup warm-up circuit, one of the most significant moments of the night belonged to a teenager.

Ceadach O’Neill, the Hale End winger who has been edging closer to senior football all season, made his full debut for Northern Ireland in a hard-fought 1-0 win over Guinea.

The 18-year-old has already caught the eye in Premier League 2 and the UEFA Youth League and has been included in first-team squads at club level. This, though, was different. This was a first cap. A proper step.

He entered the game in the 64th minute at the Estadio Municipal de la Línea de la Concepción in Cadiz, replacing Isaac Price as Northern Ireland looked to protect a slender lead. That lead came courtesy of Tom Atcheson, whose goal ultimately decided the contest.

For O’Neill, it was about more than the scoreline: a first taste of senior international football, away from home, in a game that demanded discipline as much as flair.

There may be an even bigger test on the horizon. Northern Ireland now travel to Lille to face France at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy – and O’Neill could find himself lining up against one of his club’s established stars on French soil.