Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyökeres were both in excellent form as Sweden opened their World Cup 2026 Group F campaign with a commanding 5–1 win over Tunisia.
Brighton midfielder Yasin Ayari produced the standout moments of the night, scoring two spectacular long-range goals in the sixth and 96th minutes. Despite those highlights, it was Sweden’s attacking duo of Isak and Gyökeres who dictated the tempo and ensured the match remained firmly under control from start to finish.
Sweden made a fast start and struck early through Ayari, who opened the scoring with a brilliant effort from distance. The midfielder kept his celebration modest in a respectful gesture toward Tunisia, a country connected to his family background and one he was eligible to represent.
Shortly after, Sweden doubled their advantage in the 40th minute through Isak. The move was sparked by Gyökeres, who dropped deep near the halfway line to link play before laying the ball into Isak’s path. The Liverpool forward drove forward with purpose, cut inside onto his right foot, and calmly placed his finish into the bottom-right corner.
Tunisia briefly responded just before half-time when Omar Rekik pulled one back in the 43rd minute with a well-timed glancing header, giving his side hope of mounting a comeback heading into the break.
However, Sweden reasserted control in the second half. Gyökeres restored the two-goal cushion in the 59th minute after Isak returned the favour, providing the assist with a clever setup inside the box. The finish underlined Gyökeres’ sharp movement and clinical edge in front of goal.
As the game entered its final stages, substitute Mattias Svanberg made an immediate impact. Just 18 seconds after coming on, he swept home Sweden’s fourth goal in the 84th minute. Although the assistant referee initially raised the offside flag, a VAR review confirmed that a slight touch from Isak had played him onside.
To complete the emphatic performance, Ayari struck again in stoppage time with another powerful long-range effort, capping a memorable night for Sweden and sealing a dominant opening win under Graham Potter’s side.
