Benjamin Nygren played a big part as Sweden sealed their place at the 2026 World Cup, setting up Gustaf Lagerbielke for a vital goal in the play-off win over Poland.

The Celtic attacker was used in a central role, getting on the ball and finding space between the lines. From one of those positions, he delivered the assist for Sweden’s second goal, slipping the ball through for Lagerbielke to finish.

It was a game that never settled. Sweden went ahead, were pulled back, then had to respond again. That happened more than once, which meant they had to stay calm and keep moving the ball in the right areas. Nygren’s moment came when the game needed someone to make the right decision in the final third.

For Celtic, it is another reminder of what Nygren offers when he plays inside. He was not stuck out wide. Instead, he drifted into pockets where he could receive the ball and turn quickly. That gave Sweden a different option when the game tightened up.

There was also a clear link with Lagerbielke. The two combined at a key point, showing an understanding that carried into a high-pressure match.

He said: (Fotbollskanalen), “No, it’s absolutely wonderful. I’ve been thinking about this moment so much and dreamed about playing in the World Championship with Sweden since I was a kid, so it feels absolutely wonderful.

“No, it’s so much fun. Both the Prime Minister and the Prime Minister were there and said a few words, so that was fun. No, it’s going to be so much fun to celebrate the game.

“We took the lead, as I said, and they quitted. Then we took the lead again and they quitted again. So it was really tough, but we kept going and in the end the decisive goal came.

“Yes, Gustaf and I have talked a lot about scoring a goal on the first leg, so it was really fun to shoot.”

That last comment gives a bit of insight into the goal. The pass and finish came from something they had already spoken about before the match.

Sweden now head into the tournament on a good run, and Nygren’s role in getting them there puts him in a strong position for the summer.

From a Celtic perspective, it also shows where he can have the most impact. Playing closer to the striker brings him into the game more often.

With the World Cup coming up, those performances will matter. Nygren has shown he can handle it, and now he has the chance to build on it.