Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski will miss the 2026 World Cup following Poland’s heartbreaking 3-2 defeat to Sweden in Tuesday night’s high-stakes European playoff final.
Robert Lewandowski’s aspirations for a final World Cup appearance ended in heartbreak as Poland suffered a 3-2 defeat against Sweden.
Despite equalizing twice through Nicola Zalewski and Karol Swiderski, Poland was undone by a late winner from Sweden’s Viktor Gyökeres.
While the result marks a devastating exit for the veteran striker, it secures tournament progression for his Barcelona teammate Roony Bardghji and the Swedish side.
The disappointment comes at a pivotal moment for Lewandowski, whose future at Barcelona remains uncertain with his contract set to expire this summer.
Sweden now moves forward to join Tunisia, the Netherlands, and Japan in the tournament’s group phase.
For the 37-year-old Pole, the loss likely signals the end of his international tournament career as he weighs his next professional move beyond the Catalan club.