Sweden opened their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a ruthless 5-1 demolition of Tunisia at Monterrey Stadium, Mexico, Sunday, to go top of Group F.
Graham Potter’s side capitalised on defensive mistakes from the Carthage Eagles and never looked back.
—Goal blitz—
Sweden struck in just 7 minutes. Tunisia keeper Mouhib Chamakh misjudged Victor Lindelöf’s long ball, Viktor Gyökeres’ shot was blocked, and Yasin Ayari slammed home into an empty net from range. The Sweden midfielder, of Tunisian heritage, didn’t celebrate.
The lead doubled on 30 minutes. Gyökeres set up Alexander Isak, who finished calmly on the break for 2-0.
Tunisia pulled one back before halftime when Omar Rekik lost his marker to head home Hannibal Mejbri’s floated cross. 2-1 at the break.
Any comeback hope died after restart. Isak turned provider on the hour, dispossessing Ellyes Skhiri in midfield before teeing up Gyökeres for his 15th goal in his last 16 international games.
Substitute Mattias Svanberg made it 4-1 just 16 seconds after coming on. A chip-sensor VAR check confirmed Isak’s assist.
Ayari capped a superb night in stoppage time with another long-range strike for 5-1.
—What it means—
Sweden extend their unbeaten run in World Cup openers to five games and lead Group F after Netherlands and Japan drew 2-2 earlier. Tunisia now face pressure ahead of Japan, still chasing a first World Cup opening-match win since 1978.
Next: Sweden vs Netherlands, Tunisia vs Japan.
