Sweden Demolish Tunisia 5-1 in Stunning World Cup Opener
Sweden have announced themselves at the 2026 World Cup in the most emphatic fashion possible. A 5-1 victory over Tunisia in Monterrey on Sunday was not just a win, it was a statement.
SFN Editor ·
Graham Potter's side lead Group F after the Netherlands and Japan drew 2-2 earlier in the day.
Yasin Ayari was the star of the night. The Brighton midfielder scored twice with two of the best strikes you will see at this World Cup, sandwiching goals from Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyökeres and substitute Mattias Svanberg in a performance that will have the rest of Group F watching nervously.
Ayari opened the scoring in the sixth minute with a stunning long-range effort that curled into the top-right corner with three Tunisian defenders on the line. Isak doubled the lead in the 29th minute, finishing clinically after being released by Gyökeres on a swift counter. Tunisia gave themselves hope when Omar Rekik pulled one back just before half time, but Sweden were far too good.
Gyökeres got the goal his performance deserved to make it 3-1, before Svanberg came on and scored within 13 seconds of his introduction — the fastest goal ever scored by a substitute at a World Cup. Ayari then capped the evening with an even better version of his first goal, blasting home from the edge of the box to complete his brace and seal an extraordinary 5-1 scoreline.
Isak finished the night with a goal and two assists. Gyökeres added a goal and an assist. The partnership that Swedish football has been dreaming about delivered exactly when it mattered most.
Sweden face the Netherlands next in what is already shaping up as a pivotal Group F clash. On this performance, nobody will be taking them lightly.
Match details
Sweden 5-1 Tunisia
Group F, 2026 FIFA World Cup
Estadio Monterrey, Mexico
14 June 2026
Goals:
Ayari 6, Isak 29, Gyökeres (pen) 57, Svanberg 74, Ayari 81
Rekik 42 (Tunisia)