This is a feature in a special World Cup issue of Sounders Monthly. Copies will be available for free at The NINETY, GuestLink Services locations, Soccer Celebration and Membership Central beginning Saturday, June 23 vs. Chicago Fire.
Gustav Svensson thought it was over.
When the Swedish midfielder signed with the Seattle Sounders from Guangzhou R&F of the Chinese Super League before the start of the 2017 season, he pretty much accepted that the decision would spell an end to his time with his country’s national team.
The well-traveled veteran didn’t have that many caps to begin with — just seven since 2009 — and the move to Major League Soccer created a new set of obstacles to competing at the international level.