Udinese captain Karlstrom eyes World Cup after Sweden qualification
Udinese captain Jesper Karlstrom is set for a pivotal summer, having secured Sweden's qualification for the 2026 World Cup while preparing for fatherhood. The 28-year-old midfielder, a mainstay in the Friulian side's engine room, reflected on the national team's success and his life in Serie A in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport. Karlstrom played a key role as Sweden defeated Poland in a playoff to book their ticket to the tournament, an achievement the squad celebrated long into the night.
Karlstrom's consistent performances for Udinese have been foundational this season. He is the second outfield player for minutes played in Serie A, with 2,733 across 31 appearances, trailing only Genoa's Vasquez. This durability is notable given he has played with a suspended sentence threat since December 27, a testament to his discipline and importance to coach Kosta Runjaic. His leadership was recognized when he was named club captain, a role he embraces, communicating primarily in English with a squad that includes experienced figures like Kabasele and veteran goalkeeper Padelli.
The Swede is now focused on Udinese's final push in the league, stating the team is working to reach the 50-point mark, a threshold the club has not hit since 2014. He believes the team has grown significantly, citing strong performances against top sides like Inter, Napoli, and Roma this season. This weekend, Karlstrom will lead his team at San Siro against AC Milan, a match where he hopes to greet his idol and compatriot, Zlatan Ibrahimovic. He acknowledged the difficulty of the task against a Milan midfield featuring Luka Modric, whom he described as an example for all players.
Looking ahead to the World Cup, Karlstrom is optimistic about Sweden's chances in a tough group containing the Netherlands, Japan, and Tunisia. He highlighted the importance of the opening match and expressed hope that key attacker Dejan Kulusevski will be fit. He also spoke glowingly of international teammate and childhood friend Viktor Gyokeres, and made a pointed observation about Italian football, suggesting Italy would have qualified for the World Cup had then-coach Gattuso played Nicolo Zaniolo in their decisive playoff. He compared Udinese's own threat, striker Davis, to the level of Gyokeres.
Off the pitch, Karlstrom revealed he will become a father during the World Cup, with a baby girl due in Stockholm. He expressed great satisfaction with life in Udine, praising the city's location and his desire to remain with the club. He also opened up about managing Type 1 diabetes throughout his career, crediting club doctors and a continuous glucose monitor for allowing him to perform at the highest level. Karlstrom views discussing his condition as an opportunity to be an example for young people facing similar challenges.
For Udinese, retaining a player of Karlstrom's leadership and consistency will be a priority this summer, while the midfielder himself has a career-highlight World Cup to prepare for as a new chapter in his personal life begins.
