The Swedes initiated their confident success early on, with both top stars also scoring. Tunisia makes too many mistakes to win a point.
Sweden celebrated an easy 5-1 (2-1) win against Tunisia in the first game of the 2026 World Cup. Yasin Ayari gave the Scandinavians an early lead (7th minute), Alexander Isak increased the score after half an hour. Shortly before the break, Omar Rekik gave Tunisia new hope with the connection (43′). In the second period, Viktor Gyökeres restored the old gap (60th), joker Mattias Svanberg increased (84th), before Ayari scored the brilliant final point (90th + 6th).
Sweden’s Ayari chases the ball into the goal
The game didn’t need a long start-up phase. Arsenal star Viktor Gyökeres had plenty of space on the left in the 5th minute, moved inside and finished – over. The Scandinavians stayed right on the accelerator. After a long ball to Alexander Isak, Gyökeres shot again but was blocked. The rebound landed 20 meters in front of the goal to Ayari, who picked up the ball and drove it into the net with enormous force – a dream goal.
Tunisia with the German legionnaires Rani Khedira (Union Berlin), captain Ellyes Skhiri (Eintracht Frankfurt) and Elias Saad, who was recently loaned to Hannover 96, was initially only required to play defensively. But then attacker Anis Ben Slimane was released on the left side, who was denied by keeper Kristoffer Nordfeldt and was also offside (13th).
Isak increased – Rekik brings Tunisia back
Sweden controlled the action and the game took a short break. Saad’s long-range shot from a good 20 meters went well over, then referee Yael Falcon from Argentina asked for an obligatory drink break in the Monterrey stadium. The Swedes, who hadn’t won a game in qualifying and only made it into the playoffs by winning Nations League Group C and beating Poland there, had everything under control afterwards.
Tunisia now had more possession of the ball, but it wasn’t compelling. But the Swedes struck coldly. Gyökeres served Isak on the left. The Liverpool player’s tight, but not very well-placed finish slipped over Tunisia keeper Mouhib Chamakh’s arm into the far corner. The North Africans were now a little out of control, the Swedes were still more dangerous: Gyökeres narrowly missed a cross from Alexander Bernhardsson at the far post (40th). Then, out of the blue, Tunisia came back into the game. After a sharp half-court cross from Hannibal, Rekik headed in an unstoppable shot from eight meters and provided new hope for the second half.
Sweden punishes Skhiri’s mistake
Tunisia started the second half with a lot of possession, Sweden first looked at what the North Africans had to offer: Hannibal’s cross became longer and longer, but Nordfeldt grabbed it safely (50th). Both teams acted too imprecisely when going forward, which meant that there was no great flow of play. Instead, the events became more physical. Khedira cleared Jesper Karlström and was shown a yellow card.
Then the Swedes benefited from a major blunder by Skhiri: The Frankfurter allowed the ball to be stolen from Isak during the build-up, strike partner Gyökeres didn’t take long to ask and slotted in clear in front of goalkeeper Chamakh to make it 3-1.
More space for Sweden
Tunisia tried to build pressure, but resources were limited. The Swedes were more dangerous with their individual quality. Isak and Gyökeres came into the dangerous areas several times, but were unable to make a decisive finish.
The North Africans remain far too harmless to get back into the game. Coach Sabri Lamouchi’s team managed just one shot on goal after the substitution until the 80th minute. Instead, the bell rang again on the other side. Svanberg, who had been substituted seconds earlier, scored from a free kick from the side in what was supposed to be an offside position. But because Isak had tipped the ball slightly in Svanberg’s direction, he was in the permitted zone and the hit counted after the VAR intervened.
In stoppage time, Tunisia misused the ball again and Ayari sealed the final point with his second great goal from distance.
Outlook in World Cup Group F
In the first game of Group F, the Netherlands and Japan drew 2-2 in a thrilling game on Sunday evening.
Sweden will continue against the Netherlands on Saturday (7 p.m. CEST) in Houston against the Netherlands, while Tunisia will face Japan on Sunday (6 a.m. CEST) in Monterrey.