Sweden made an emphatic statement on their return to the World Cup stage, thrashing Tunisia 5-1 at Monterrey Stadium on Sunday, June 14, in a performance that announced Graham Potter’s side as genuine contenders in Group F. Yasin Ayari scored twice, either side of goals from Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyokeres, and substitute Mattias Svanberg, as Sweden moved top of the group after the Netherlands and Japan had shared a dramatic 2-2 draw earlier in the day.
Omar Rekik’s goal just before half-time gave Tunisia brief hope, but it was overwhelmed by a ruthless Swedish display that leaves the North African side needing a swift response.
Match Details
- Competition: 2026 FIFA World Cup, Group F
- Date: Sunday, 14 June 2026
- Venue: Monterrey Stadium
- Kick-off: 8:00 PM local time
- Result: Sweden 5-1 Tunisia
Watch Sweden vs Tunisia Highlights
Full match highlights from Sweden vs Tunisia at the 2026 FIFA World Cup are available to watch now. watch below
Goalscorers
- Sweden: Yasin Ayari (7′, 90+6′), Alexander Isak (30′), Viktor Gyokeres (59′), Mattias Svanberg (84′)
- Tunisia: Omar Rekik (43′)
First Half: Ayari and Isak Punish a Slow Start
Sweden needed only seven minutes to make their intentions clear. Yasin Ayari, the Brighton midfielder who would go on to define this performance, picked his spot calmly with three Tunisian defenders on the line and the goalkeeper stranded, slotting Sweden into an early lead. It was the kind of composed finish that suggested this would not be a tense, cagey World Cup opener.
Alexander Isak doubled the advantage on 30 minutes, continuing the rich vein of attacking form that helped fire Sweden through a dramatic UEFA play-off campaign against Poland to reach this tournament in the first place. Isak and Gyokeres combined repeatedly throughout the half, stretching a Tunisian back line that struggled to deal with their movement and pace in behind.
Tunisia, to their credit, did not fold entirely. Omar Rekik gave the Carthage Eagles a lifeline with a goal just before the interval, cutting the deficit to 2-1 and offering genuine hope that Sabri Lamouchi’s side could mount a second-half response. That hope would not survive the next 45 minutes.
Second Half: Gyokeres, Svanberg, and Ayari Complete the Rout
Viktor Gyokeres extended Sweden’s lead on 59 minutes, continuing his prolific international form after the hat-trick he scored against Ukraine in qualifying and the dramatic late winner against Poland that sent Sweden to this World Cup in the first place. His goal effectively ended any realistic hope of a Tunisian comeback.
Substitute Mattias Svanberg made an instant impact, scoring within seconds of his introduction to make it 4-1 on 84 minutes. With Tunisia committing numbers forward in search of a second goal, gaps opened at the back, and Sweden punished every one of them. Ayari completed his brace deep into stoppage time, blasting home from the edge of the box in the 90+6th minute to put a final, emphatic gloss on the scoreline.
Key Performer: Yasin Ayari
Yasin Ayari was the standout performer of the match, scoring twice and showing the composure and range that has made him an increasingly important figure for Sweden. His first goal showed ice-cold finishing under pressure, while his second was a thunderous strike from distance that put an exclamation mark on a dominant team performance.
Key Stats
- Sweden move top of Group F after Matchday 1, two points clear of Japan and the Netherlands who drew 2-2.
- Yasin Ayari scored twice, in the 7th minute and the 90+6th minute.
- Mattias Svanberg scored within seconds of coming off the bench.
- This was Sweden’s first World Cup appearance since 2018.
- Tunisia finish Matchday 1 bottom of Group F and must respond quickly in their next fixture.
What Comes Next
Sweden will face Japan in their second group match, a significant test against a side that pushed the Netherlands all the way in a thrilling 2-2 draw. Tunisia, meanwhile, must regroup quickly against the Netherlands if they are to keep their World Cup hopes alive. Sabri Lamouchi was blunt in his post-match assessment, acknowledging his side made too many mistakes against a Swedish team with world-class attacking talent.
This article was updated following the final whistle on 14 June 2026. All statistics are sourced from FIFA and ESPN.
