Sweden began their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a commanding 5-1 victory over Tunisia in Monterrey on Monday, securing a dream start in Group F and silencing early doubts about their tournament credentials. Two goals from Yasin Ayari, one each from Alexander Isak, Anthony Gyokeres and Emil Svanberg propelled Janne Andersson’s side to the top of the group after the opening match of the competition. The result marked Sweden’s most emphatic World Cup debut since 1994 and provided immediate vindication for a team that had required a dramatic penalty shootout to qualify in March.

Ayari, the 21-year-old midfielder born in Stockholm to Tunisian parents, announced himself on the world stage by opening the scoring in the seventh minute and adding a second late in the second half. “I usually score nice goals,” he told reporters after the match, reflecting on his brace. Isak, Sweden’s record scorer, doubled the lead before half-time, while Gyokeres and Svanberg added late goals to complete a comprehensive display. Tunisia pulled one back through a penalty but were overwhelmed by Sweden’s clinical finishing and disciplined pressing.

The victory at Estadio BBVA, known locally as Monterrey Stadium, followed a turbulent qualifying campaign in which Sweden finished third in their group before overcoming Turkey in a penalty shootout to reach Qatar 2026. “We showed character,” said Andersson. “We knew we had to start well, and we did.” The result leaves Sweden as Group F favourites ahead of their next matches against the Netherlands and Chile, while Tunisia face an uphill battle to progress.

International media echoed the significance of Sweden’s performance. France 24 described it as a “statement victory,” while Germany’s *Die Welt* framed it as redemption after a “disastrous” qualifying campaign. Swedish outlets spoke of a “dream start” (*drömstart*), with *Aftonbladet* and *Svenska Dagbladet* both hailing Ayari as the breakout star of the tournament’s opening day.

With the Netherlands and Chile still to play their first fixtures, Sweden now have a psychological and logistical advantage in Group F. Their next opponents will need to respond quickly if they are to prevent the Scandinavian side from securing a place in the Round of 16 before the group concludes on 25 June.

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helsingin sanomat · 19 days ago

Sweden beat Tunisia 5-1 in strong start to World Cup Two goals from Ayari and one each from Isak, Gyokeres and Svanberg take Sweden to the top of Group F in Monterrey.

aljazeera · 19 days ago

Zweden verpulvert Tunesië in WK-poule Oranje ondanks goal Nederlander Rekik Zweden heeft maandagochtend (Nederlandse tijd) ruim gewonnen van Tunesië in de poule van het Nederlands elftal op het WK voetbal. De Zweden zegevierden met 5-1, ondanks een doelpunt van de geboren Nederlander Omar Rekik.

nu.nl · 19 days ago

Trion kan skaka vilket lag som helst Yasin Ayari, Alexander Isak och Viktor Gyökeres gav Sverige en drömstart i VM. Blågults fem-etta mot Tunisien var ett underbart styrkebesked – som sätter Blågult i en drömposition inför fortsättningen.

svenska dagbladet · 19 days ago

Sweden 5-1 Tunisia: World Cup 2026 – as it happened Yasin Ayari shines bright as Graham Potters Sweden put on a five-star showing to crush TunisiaThis evenings match is taking place at the impressive Estadio BBVA, known for the duration of the World Cup as Monterrey Stadium. The 53,000 capacity arena is nicknamed the Steel Giant, and was opened in 2015.It is famed for its view of Cerro de la Silla, a nearby mountain with a highest peak of almost 6,000 feet. The steep stands and proximity of seating to the pitch will help the atmosphere. Continue reading...

theguardian · 19 days ago

Two-goal Yasin Ayari combines with Sweden stars to sweep aside error-prone Tunisia When they picture a messiah, few perhaps imagine a mild-mannered 51-year-old with a greying beard who used to play at left-back for York City. Certainly Chelsea and West Ham fans dont. But the degree to which Graham Potter is loved in Sweden has to be seen to be believed. He was a down-on-his-luck manager seeking a new start; they were a country who didnt win a single game in World Cup qualifying. And somehow they were perfect for each other. By the standards of what Potter has achieved over the past nine months, a comfortable win over a self-destructive Tunisia barely registers, but it is the continuation of a remarkable process of renewal.Sweden were awful in qualifying. They had a lot of injuries, its true, but two defeats to both Switzerland and Kosovo and two draws against Slovenia are not usually a route to the World Cup. Jon Dahl Tomasson was sacked as coach and Potter brought in. Swedens Nations League performances offered a repechage chance in the play-offs, and they took full advantage, beating Ukraine and Poland to secure their place at the finals. Potter described the latter victory, secured with an 89th-minute Viktor Gyökeres goal, as his best night in football. Sunday night was part of his reward. Continue reading...

theguardian · 19 days ago

Oranje-tegenstander Zweden wint eerste WK-duel met gemak van Tunesië Zweden begint komende zaterdag met een goed gevoel aan de ontmoeting met het Nederlands elftal op het wereldkampioenschap voetbal. De Scandinaviërs, die zich ternauwernood voor het toernooi wisten te plaatsen, versloegen Tunesië met ruime cijfers: 5-1.

rtl nieuws · 19 days ago

Schweden macht seine desaströse WM-Quali vergessen und deklassiert Tunesien Schweden ist mit viel Glück überhaupt bei dieser WM dabei. Im ersten Spiel setzen die Skandinavier aber ein echtes Ausrufezeichen. Gegen Tunesien treffen beide Star-Stürmer.

welt.de · 19 days ago

Zlatan vraket Sveriges VM-kamp: – La oss bare nyte det Zlatan Ibrahimovic (44) var på plass på Donald Trumps UFC-fest i stedet for Sveriges første kamp i fotball-VM på åtte år.

aftenposten · 19 days ago

Drömstart för Sverige – vinner stort med 5-1 Drömstart och gruppledning. Det står klart efter att Sverige slog Tunisien med hela 5–1 i VM-premiären. Jag brukar göra ganska fina mål, säger Yasin Ayari som inledde och avslutade målskyttet.

svenska dagbladet · 19 days ago

Nektet å feire Sveriges drømmeåpning: – Et veldig spesielt øyeblikk Yasin Ayari sparte først på kruttet etter å ha pangåpnet VM for Sverige. Men det skulle til slutt bli målfeiring på svensken.

nrk · 19 days ago

Grattis, Sverige! Drømmestart på VM. Sverige fikk en drømmestart på fotball-VM mot Tunisia.

aftenposten · 19 days ago

Drömstart för Sverige – vinner stort med 5-1 Drömstart och gruppledning. Det står klart efter att Sverige slog Tunisien med hela 5–1 i VM-premiären mot Tunisien.

svenska dagbladet · 19 days ago

Oranje-opponent Zweden op WK met ruime cijfers langs Tunesië Zweden begint zaterdag met een goed gevoel aan de ontmoeting met het Nederlands elftal op het wereldkampioenschap voetbal. De Scandinaviërs, die zich ternauwernood voor het toernooi wisten te plaatsen, versloegen Tunesië in Monterrey met ruime cijfers: 5-1. Zweden gaat daarmee aan de leiding in groep F, voor Japan en Nederland, die eerder op zondag in het Dallas Stadium met 2-2 gelijkspeelden.

rtl nieuws · 19 days ago

Drömstart för Sverige – Ayari petar in 5–1 Sverige fick en drömstart i VM-premiären mot Tunisien när Ayari hittade nät efter bara sju minuter. Efter ställningen 2–1 i halvtid har Blågults utökat ledningen till 5–1 i andra halvlek.

svenska dagbladet · 19 days ago

Sverige kopplar grepp – Svanberg petar in 4–1 Sverige fick en drömstart i VM-premiären mot Tunisien när Ayari hittade nät efter bara sju minuter. Efter ställningen 2–1 i halvtid har Gyökeres och Svanberg utökat Blågults ledning i andra halvlek. Följ matchen här.

svenska dagbladet · 19 days ago

Sweden v Tunisia: World Cup 2026 – live ⚽️ Kick-off time: 8pm local/3am BST/10pm EDT/12pm AEST⚽️ Player guide | Bracketology | Golden Boot | Mail JonathanThis evenings match is taking place at the impressive Estadio BBVA, known for the duration of the World Cup as Monterrey Stadium. The 53,000 capacity arena is nicknamed the Steel Giant, and was opened in 2015.It is famed for its view of Cerro de la Silla, a nearby mountain with a highest peak of almost 6,000 feet. The steep stands and proximity of seating to the pitch will help the atmosphere. Continue reading...

theguardian · 19 days ago

Tunisien reducerar efter Sveriges drömstart Sverige fick en drömstart på sin VM-premiär efter att Ayari spräckte nollan i sjunde minuten. Sverige leder just nu mot Tunisien med 2–1. Följ Blågults framfart här.

svenska dagbladet · 19 days ago

Zlatan vraket Sveriges VM-kamp Zlatan Ibrahimovic (44) er på plass på Donald Trumps UFC-fest i stedet for Sveriges første kamp i fotball-VM på åtte år.

aftenposten · 19 days ago

Isak utökar till 2–0 – drömstart för Sverige Sverige har fått en drömstart på sin VM-premiär efter att Ayari spräckte nollan i sjunde minuten. Därefter har Isak utökat ledningen mot Tunisien till 2–0. Följ Blågults framfart här.

svenska dagbladet · 19 days ago

Ayari spräcker nollan – drömstart för Sverige Sverige VM-debuterar mot Tunisien och första halvlek är igång. Sverige har fått en drömstart bara sju minuter in. Följ Blågults framfart här.

svenska dagbladet · 19 days ago

Drömstart för Sverige mot Tunisien Sverige VM-debuterar mot Tunisien och första halvlek är igång. Sverige har fått en drömstart bara sju minuter in. Följ Blågults framfart här.

svenska dagbladet · 19 days ago

Sverige mot Tunisien – följ matchen direkt Sverige VM-debuterar mot Tunisien och första halvlek är igång. Följ Blågults framfart här.

svenska dagbladet · 19 days ago