Who is Jacob Widell Zetterstrom? Sweden goalkeeper who starred vs France in FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32
(Courtesy : Getty)
Jacob Widell Zetterstrom made five key saves for the Blagult in tonight’s match.
Sweden faced France in a tough Round of 32 clash in the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on June 30. Les Bleus led the match 1-0 at half-time, but the scoreline could have been much bigger in favour of the 2018 champions. The Blagult had to thank their goalkeeper, Jacob Widell Zetterstrom, whose heroics kept his side in the contest.
France were on the front foot right from kick-off, and managed to hit the Swedish goal frame twice over the course of the first 45 minutes. They also had plenty of shots on target, and Zetterstrom had to stand tall to deny Kylian Mbappe and co.
The goalkeeper was alert during an early chance for Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele, rushing out of his goal to clear the ball before the former could reach it. He then denied the Real Madrid forward several times, also making a save from a long-range effort by Lucas Digne.
In total, Zetterstrom made five saves in the first half. Even though he was beaten in the 45th minute by the French number 10, it was still a heroic performance from the Derby County player, who was not his side’s No. 1 choice coming into the tournament.
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Jacob Widell Zetterstrom Profile
- Age: 27
- Position: Goalkeeper
- Club: Derby County (England)
Born in Stockholm, Zetterstrom started his youth career with Djurgardens IF before joining IFK Lidingo. He made his senior debut for the latter in 2019 and made 37 appearances. He was eventually resigned by Djurgarden, who loaned him back to his former club for a season.
After seeing his debut delayed by a head injury, Zetterstrom started his Djurgardens career in 2021. He made 118 appearances for the Swedish side, becoming one of the best goalkeepers in the Allsvenskan.
His performance prompted Derby County, which played in the second tier of English football, to sign him for 1.75 million euros. He signed a three-year contract with the Rams and quickly established himself as the No. 1. He finished last season with 33 appearances across all competitions, keeping seven clean sheets.
Zetterstrom made his international debut in 2023. Since then, he has made five appearances for the Blagult, two of which have come in the expanded 48-team World Cup in North America.
Who is Jacob Widell Zetterstrom?
He is a 27‑year‑old Swedish goalkeeper who plays for Derby County in EFL Championship.
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Sushruta has spent over two years covering football, with a particular focus on Indian and international competitions. Alongside football, he has reported on a variety of sports, bringing curiosity and perspective to every story. When he’s not following the action, he can usually be found binge-watching movies or getting lost in a good book.