Sweden made a statement in their FIFA World Cup 2026™ opener, sweeping Tunisia aside 5-1 to sprint to the top of Group F. Yasin Ayari struck twice, Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres combined to devastating effect, and Mattias Svanberg added a late fourth as Graham Potter’s side began the tournament with an emphatic three points.
The result matters early in a group that also includes Japan and the Netherlands, with Sweden moving two points clear of those rivals after Matchday 4 action. Tunisia briefly threatened to make a contest of it before Sweden pulled away decisively after the break.
Ayari sets the tone as Sweden take control
Sweden were in front inside seven minutes at Monterrey Stadium, and it was a moment of quality that set the tone for what followed. Ayari, whose father was born in Tunisia, broke the deadlock with a brilliant drive from outside the box to make it 1-0.
Tunisia tried to settle, but Sweden’s attacking pair of Isak and Gyokeres continued to cause problems. The second goal arrived on 30 minutes, crafted through that partnership: Gyokeres produced a delightful turn and pass to release Isak, who finished to double Sweden’s advantage at 2-0.
Despite Sweden’s early authority, Tunisia found a way back into the game before the interval. On 43 minutes, Omar Rekik glanced home a glorious delivery from Hannibal Mejbri for his first international goal, cutting the deficit to 2-1 and giving Sabri Lamouchi’s side renewed hope heading into half-time.
Second-half surge puts the game out of reach
Any prospect of a Tunisia comeback was quickly extinguished after the restart as Sweden took over completely. Isak sparked the key moment, robbing Ellyes Skhiri in possession. The loose ball fell kindly for Gyokeres, who made no mistake as he buried the chance to restore Sweden’s two-goal cushion at 3-1.
From there, Sweden played with increasing freedom and the match tilted firmly in their favour. Svanberg then amplified the advantage moments after coming on, adding a fourth to underline Sweden’s depth and momentum in the latter stages.
Ayari completed the scoring deep into stoppage time, netting at 90+6 to seal a morale-boosting 5-1 success and cap a standout night for the midfielder with his second goal of the match.
Key stat, awards and what it means for Group F
The match also fed into a high-scoring day at the tournament. A total of 19 goals were scored on Matchday 4 of this World Cup, an average of 4.75 per game, with Sweden’s five-goal display a major contributor to that figure.
Alexander Isak was named the Michelob Ultra Superior Player of the Match after playing a central role in Sweden’s attacking performance, including his goal and his involvement in the decisive second-half swing.
After the final whistle, Sweden defender Victor Lindelof highlighted the importance of starting strongly, saying: “I’m very happy with the three points today. It’s a great start to the tournament, especially if we are talking about a big World Cup. I think we managed the game perfectly, both with and without the ball, and I’m very happy with what we produced”.
For Sweden, the opening win provides early breathing room and a significant boost to confidence in Group F. For Tunisia, Rekik’s goal offered a bright moment, but the second-half collapse leaves them needing a response in their remaining group matches.
