Sweden announced themselves as genuine contenders at the FIFA World Cup 2026 with a commanding 5-1 victory over Tunisia in their Group F opener at Estadio BBVA, Monterrey.
Inspired by a sensational brace from Yasin Ayari and influential performances from Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyökeres, the Scandinavians overwhelmed Tunisia in Monterrey to claim one of the most emphatic wins of the opening round.
The result sees Sweden take an early lead in Group F after the other group match ended in a 2-2 draw between the Netherlands and Japan, placing the Blue and Yellow in an ideal position ahead of a crucial showdown with the Dutch.
Sweden could hardly have wished for a better beginning to their World Cup campaign.
Just seven minutes into the contest, Ayari opened the scoring after a chaotic sequence inside the Tunisian penalty area. A long pass from captain Victor Lindelöf sent Alexander Isak racing behind the defence before goalkeeper Mouhib Chamakh intervened. The loose ball eventually fell to Gyökeres, whose effort was cleared off the line by Montassar Talbi, only for Ayari to smash a stunning half-volley into the net for a deserved 1-0 lead.
The early breakthrough settled Sweden and allowed Jon Dahl Tomasson’s side to dictate the tempo. Tunisia struggled to match Sweden’s movement and direct attacking play, while Isak and Gyökeres continually threatened with runs behind the defensive line.
After controlling much of the first half, Sweden struck again in the 30th minute through their star forward.
A swift counterattack started deep inside Swedish territory before Gyökeres released Isak on the left flank. The striker drove at the Tunisian defence, cut inside, and curled a precise finish into the far corner to make it 2-0.
However, Tunisia ensured they remained in the contest before halftime.
From a long throw-in, Hannibal Mejbri delivered a dangerous cross that found defender Omar Rekik, who powered a header past Kristoffer Nordfeldt to reduce the deficit to 2-1 and give the North Africans renewed hope heading into the break.
Tunisia emerged stronger after halftime and enjoyed their best spell of the match, forcing Sweden deeper and increasing the pressure on the Scandinavian defence.
Yet just as Tunisia appeared capable of finding an equaliser, Sweden punished a costly mistake.
Goalkeeper Chamakh played a risky pass to captain Ellyes Skhiri, but Isak reacted brilliantly to win possession before setting up Gyökeres, who calmly finished to restore Sweden’s two-goal cushion in the 60th minute.
Substitute Mattias Svanberg made an instant impact, scoring with his very first touch after meeting a flick-on from Isak following an Ayari free-kick. Although initially ruled out for offside, VAR confirmed the goal and sparked celebrations among the Swedish supporters.
Tunisia’s resistance visibly faded after the fourth goal, and Sweden took full advantage.
Deep into stoppage time, Ayari produced another moment of brilliance, unleashing a superb long-range strike to complete his brace and seal a dominant 5-1 victory.
While Ayari’s two goals grabbed the headlines, Isak delivered one of the most complete performances of the opening round.
The Newcastle United star scored once, provided a crucial assist, created numerous attacking opportunities, and consistently troubled the Tunisian backline with his movement and technical quality.
Gyökeres also impressed with a goal and an assist, while Sweden’s midfield controlled key phases of the match as the team showcased its growing maturity on the global stage.
The emphatic victory places Sweden at the summit of Group F after Matchday One and significantly boosts their goal difference heading into the next round of fixtures.
Sweden will face the Netherlands in their next Group F match on June 20, while Tunisia will look to bounce back against Japan as both teams continue their World Cup journey.
Credit Photo : SVFF
