While many Barcelona players will represent their nations at the upcoming 2026 World Cup in North America, Roony Bardghji will not be among them. The 20-year-old forward, who has been rumored to be considering a summer move from the La Liga champions, was unexpectedly omitted from Sweden’s squad by manager Graham Potter, causing surprise in his home country.
Bardghji has experienced a challenging first season at Barcelona, with limited playing time. Despite this, his performances have been strong enough to earn him a place in the Swedish national team, as evidenced by his inclusion in the squad that secured World Cup qualification through the playoffs in March.
However, despite featuring more consistently for Barcelona in recent weeks, Bardghji will not be participating in this summer’s World Cup. Intriguingly, reports from Aftonbladet (via 3cat) indicate that Potter’s decision to exclude him was influenced by non-sporting considerations.
Potter Cites Attitude Concerns for Bardghji’s Exclusion
According to the report, Bardghji reportedly left a negative impression on the Swedish coaching staff during their training camp in March. Following their successful World Cup qualification, the Barcelona winger is alleged to have exhibited poor behavior at the team hotel, a factor that influenced Potter’s final squad selection.
When addressing the media after announcing his 26-man squad, Potter’s comments regarding Bardghji’s omission align with the notion that the decision was not purely based on footballing merit.
“From a competition perspective, there are others ahead right now. It is also about how 26 players travel together, how they manage their free time together, how they act and the different profiles according to age and experience. I love them both. They have incredibly exciting careers ahead of them,” Potter stated.
Bardghji is undoubtedly deeply disappointed to miss out on the World Cup. Barcelona, too, may feel a sense of regret, as the tournament would have provided a significant platform to showcase the player to potential suitors in the upcoming summer transfer window.