Back in 2025, Mjallby, a modest team from a fishing village shocked the country by winning the Swedish title. That fairytale continues this week with the call-up of Elliot Stroud for the 2026 World Cup.
Born in Stockholm to an English father and Swedish mother, Stroud joined Mjallby from IK Oddevold in 2023. He was immediately a start and had 14 goals contributions (nine goals and five assists) in his side's Allsvenskan triumph while also being named the league's best right-back.
This season, which began in Sweden just last month, Stroud has already scored two goals and provided an assist in seven matches. Back in March, the full-back was called up to the national team for the very first time for the play-off that secured the Swedes' place at the tournament, although he wasn't able to make his international debut.
But now the player made history as the first Mjallby player ever to be called up for a World Cup by Sweden by manager Graham Potter.
He admitted he could hardly believe the news: "It feels like a prank," he told SVT Sport.
"My girlfriend and I were sitting there wearing Sweden shirts, cheering really hard. When I heard my name, I didn't really know what to feel. It's a moment of great honour and pride."
Leading the fairytale
Mjallby play their home matches in Hällevik, a fishing village in the province of Blekinge on the Baltic Sea coast, which has a population of just over 1,500 people. The stadium, Strandvallen, has a capacity five times larger than the town's population.
Before their historic title-winning campaign, Mjallby had never finished higher than fifth in the Swedish Championship. In 2025, however, they were crowned champions after a season of 23 wins, 6 draws and 1 defeat.
Currently, the team sits sixth in the league and has reached the final of the Swedish Cup, having knocked out the powerful Malmö in the quarter-finals with a 4-0 thrashing. Elliot Stroud scored the goal that paved the way for the rout and the final will be played this Thursday.
After becoming the club's World Cup pioneer, Stroud will return to face the next challenge: Try to help the modest Mjallby qualify for the Champions League. As Swedish champions, Mjallby will have to go via the qualifying rounds or the so-called "Champions Path".
However, that could all change this summer with Stroud currently having interest from clubs in France and the Championship…
