A 2022 World Cup Qualifying match between UEFA nations Spain and Sweden will take place on Thursday in Stockholm as both sides aim to take over the top spot in Group B. The two countries are currently separated by one point, with the Spaniards in first place with seven points through three games and the Swedes in second with six, although the latter has played one less game. It’ll be the first meeting between the two since battling to a 0-0 tie at the 2020 UEFA European Championships, this time with a crucial three points on the line. For Spain, Man City’s Ferran Torres and RB Leipzig’s Dani Olmo lead the team with two goals each in the qualifying stage, while four different Swedish players have scored a goal, two of which were assisted by superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Fans looking for the English broadcast of the match must stream it via ESPN+, while the Spanish broadcast is available via TUDN and fuboTV.
Spain vs. Sweden (World Cup 2022 Qualifying)
What time does the match start? Where can I watch it on TV? - Thursday’s match will start off at 2:45 p.m. EST for viewers in the U.S and will air on TV via TUDN in Spanish. The English broadcast will not be available on conventional TV channels in the U.S. (Channel finder: Verizon Fios | AT&T U-verse | Comcast | Spectrum/Charter | Optimum/Altice | DIRECTV | Dish | Hulu | fuboTV | Sling.)
Live steam options: ESPN+ | fuboTV - While the English broadcast of the match won’t be on any TV channels, it will be available to stream via ESPN+. That is a separate service from normal ESPN and requires a separate subscription starting at $5.99 per month. Fans can sign up for ESPN+ here. The Spanish broadcast is also available to stream via fuboTV, which has a free seven-day trial.
More international soccer coverage via the Associated Press
MADRID (AP) — With three World Cup qualifying matches coming up, Spain coach Luis Enrique made seven changes Thursday from the team that reached the semifinals of the European Championship.
Among those missing were four players who also played with Spain at the Tokyo Olympics — Pedri González, Pau Torres, Mikel Oyarzabal and Dani Olmo. Defender Eric García and goalkeeper Unai Simón were included after playing in both previous competitions.
“I think it’s important for them to get some rest now,” Luis Enrique said of the players left out. “Eric was called up because he didn’t play much last season, and Unai had some time off before Euros.”
The three other players not called up from the Euro 2020 squad were Diego Llorente, Fabián Ruiz and Thiago Alcántara.
Veteran captain Sergio Ramos, who was left out of Euro 2020 and has been recovering from injury, also wasn’t included for the September qualifiers against Sweden, Georgia and Kosovo.
“Unfortunately, the situation is the same as before, he hasn’t been able to play in any matches,” Luis Enrique said about the new Paris Saint-Germain player.
Again there aren’t any Real Madrid players in the squad announced by Luis Enrique, the former Barcelona player and coach.
The main surprise in the list was forward Abel Ruiz from Portuguese club Sporting Braga. He was a regular in Spain’s youth squads but had never been called up for the main national team.
“He finished the season well,” Luis Enrique said. “He is a very interesting player, with a lot of history in the youth squads.”
The players not in Euro 2020 added to the squad were defenders Raúl Albiol and Íñigo Martínez, midfielders Mikel Merino, Carlos Soler and Brais Méndez, and forward Pablo Fornals.
Some of them were among the players in the alternative squad called up by Luis Enrique when there were positive tests in the main team ahead of Euro 2020.
Spain lost to eventual champion Italy in the semifinals of Euro 2020. Among those returning from the European competition are captain Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, César Azpilicueta, Koke Resurrección, Álvaro Morata, Adama Traoré and Gerard Moreno.
Spain leads Group B of World Cup qualifying with seven points, one more than Sweden, which has a game in hand.
Luis Enrique also commented after Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said he would like to coach a national team after his contract with the English club ends in 2023.
“Hopefully he can be Spain’s coach. I would love for that to happen,” Luis Enrique said. “There couldn’t be a better coach for Spain.”
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