Pakistan national football team captain Abdullah Iqbal has added another major trophy to his career after Mjällby AIF defeated Hammarby IF 2-1 to win the 2026 Svenska Cupen (Swedish Cup).
The final was played at Strawberry Arena in Solna, where Mjällby secured their first-ever title win. The match was watched by 39,903 spectators, breaking an 82-year-old attendance record for a Svenska Cupen final. With the victory, Mjällby also became the 20th club to lift the trophy.
Mjällby took the lead in the 19th minute when Elliot Stroud opened the scoring. Hammarby responded only three minutes later through Paulos Abraham, bringing the game back level at 1-1.
The decisive moment came in first-half stoppage time, when Jacob Bergström restored Mjällby’s lead to make it 2-1. That goal eventually proved to be the winner, as Hammarby failed to find another equalizer despite pushing hard after the break.
The second half remained tense, with Hammarby increasing the pressure in search of a way back into the contest. Montader Madjed came closest when his effort struck the crossbar.
The closing stages were also marked by drama, as Mjällby’s Viktor Gustafson was sent off, while Hammarby appealed for a late penalty before the referee waved play on and brought the match to an end.
The 24-year-old started the final in Mjällby’s three-man defense, lining up alongside Tony Miettinen and Tom Pettersson.
His role became especially important after halftime, when Mjällby had to protect a narrow one-goal advantage while Hammarby kept pressing forward. The defensive unit held firm, keeping the opposition out for the entire second half and helping secure the historic win.
The Pakistani center-back’s delivered a composed performance, remaining secure in his actions throughout the match and operating at a high Allsvenskan level. He was also among Mjällby’s standout performers in the final.
The cup triumph continues a remarkable period for Mjällby. The club won its first-ever Allsvenskan title in 2025 and has now followed it up with its maiden Svenska Cupen crown, completing two historic title wins in quick succession.
For Abdullah Iqbal, the latest success is another major milestone in a rapidly rising career. The defender joined Mjällby AIF from Danish side B.93 in August 2024, signing a contract running until the end of the 2028 season.
At the time of his arrival, the Swedish club noted that he had already made 91 competitive appearances for B.93 and had also earned the Pakistan national team captaincy.
Iqbal has since become part of one of the most successful periods in Mjällby’s history, first helping the club win the Swedish league title and now playing a central role in its first-ever domestic cup victory.
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