A perennial second- or third-choice goalkeeper for Sweden over the 15 years since his international debut, Nordfeldt was given the nod by head coach Graham Potter to start between the posts for Sweden's two crucial World Cup play-off matches, helping his side to progress at Ukraine's and Poland's expense to qualify in dramatic fashion.
Those were caps number 19 and 20 for Nordfeldt, just his fifth and sixth competitive appearances since his debut in a friendly against South Africa in January 2011. Unused at both the 2018 World Cup and UEFA EURO 2020, Nordfeldt is now expected to don the gloves for Blagult at the 2026 tournament in North America, during which he will celebrate his 37th birthday.
Since 2021, he has been plying his trade for AIK in his native Stockholm as one of the only home-based players in the Sweden squad. He is arguably the player in the squad who knows Potter best, having worked with him at Swansea City.
Despite that relationship, Nordfeldt explained when talking to Flashscore after a recent defeat to Malmo in Allsvenskan, that he is focusing on the job he has to do with AIK and that nothing is guaranteed yet regarding his place at the World Cup, but it was nonetheless a huge honour to be given the starting berth.
How did it make you feel to get that vote of confidence from Potter to be made first-choice goalkeeper?
"Obviously, even taking my age into consideration, it’s always an honour to represent your country, so, it was a huge honour, first and foremost. Qualifying in the way we did was not what we expected if you look at our qualification run, but we always had a strong belief in the group and capping it off in the way we did was incredible."
Representing Sweden at a World Cup as the number one goalkeeper at the age of 36 - you must have thought that chance was gone?
"Yeah, obviously I’ve been involved at the World Cup and Euros before but on the bench, and we will see what his decision is in the summer. Hopefully I get called up to the squad and we’ll take it from there."
We were hearing that the atmosphere in the camp had changed a lot under Potter. How can you sum up his style in terms of coaching and the way he brings the squad together?
"Well, I worked with him before in Swansea, so I knew what he basically wants to get out of a group of players. It’s getting that feeling that we’re together in this and, I would say, maybe that’s his biggest strength if you look in the short time he’s been there so far. So, he’s building the group and everybody’s pulling the same way, believing in the same things we want to achieve."
Are you communicating with him a lot at the moment or are you doing your talking on the pitch?
"I wouldn’t say we’re talking on a daily basis, not at all! He’s busy planning for the World Cup, I’m busy here (at AIK). So, we’re not talking a lot at the moment, we’re both doing our jobs."
You face Japan, Netherlands and Tunisia in the Group Stage. Are you already starting to analyse where their threats can come from and how you can deal with them?
"I think, first and foremost, we enjoyed our play-off victory! Then it was back here to start the season, so, you try to bring that energy with you back and I think it’s got to be all about performing here. So, my focus towards the World Cup will come when we get closer to it."