Sweden made an emphatic start to their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign, brushing aside Tunisia 5-1 in their Group F opener in Monterrey, Mexico. A clinical attacking display and efficient finishing gave the Europeans early control of the group and underlined their ambitions for a deep tournament run.
The match was only seven minutes old when Yasin Ayari put Sweden ahead. The midfielder, who has Tunisian family roots, chose not to celebrate the goal. Sweden continued to dominate and doubled their advantage in the 30th minute through Alexander Isak, whose individual brilliance produced one of the standout moments of the game.
Tunisia briefly found hope before the interval. In the 43rd minute, Omar Rekik headed home from a Hannibal Mejbri cross to reduce the deficit and keep the contest alive heading into halftime.
Sweden Regain Control After the Break
Any thoughts of a Tunisian comeback faded soon after the restart.
Sweden returned with the same attacking intensity and extended their lead in the 59th minute. A well-worked move involving Isak and Viktor Gyokeres ended with Gyokeres finding the net, restoring Sweden’s two-goal cushion and putting them firmly in command.
Late in the game, substitute Mattias Svanberg thought he had scored Sweden’s fourth goal, only for the effort to be ruled offside. After a lengthy VAR review, the decision was overturned and the goal stood.
There was still time for Ayari to add another. Deep into stoppage time, he struck his second goal of the night and this time joined his teammates in celebration as Sweden completed a dominant 5-1 victory.
One feature of Sweden’s performance was the contribution from multiple attacking players. Rather than relying on a single scorer, the side consistently created danger through movement, quick transitions and coordinated play in the final third.
Isak Leads the Attack
Alexander Isak emerged as the central figure in Sweden’s victory. Along with scoring once, he helped create two other goals and remained a constant threat throughout the match. Ayari finished with a brace, while Gyokeres contributed a goal and an assist.
The statistics reflected Sweden’s superiority. Tunisia enjoyed slightly more possession, but Sweden generated the more dangerous chances and were far more effective in front of goal. Sweden managed seven shots on target compared to Tunisia’s two.
Group F Standings
The result sends Sweden to the top of Group F with three points after the opening round of matches.
- Sweden – 3 points
- Netherlands – 1 point
- Japan – 1 point
- Tunisia – 0 points
Earlier, the Netherlands and Japan shared the points in a 2-2 draw. Sweden will next face the Netherlands in a match that could have a major impact on the race for first place, while Tunisia take on Japan seeking their first points of the tournament.
