Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres spearheaded a devastating attacking display as Sweden thrashed Tunisia 5-1 to make a flying start to their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign on Monday.
Key Highlights:
- Sweden national football team thrashed Tunisia national football team 5-1 in their World Cup opener.
- Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyökeres led Sweden’s attack.
- Yasin Ayari scored twice and won Player of the Match.
- Tunisia’s only goal came through Omar Rekik.
- Sweden tops Group F ahead of a clash with the Netherlands.
The Swedish strike duo combined brilliantly throughout the contest at the Estadio Monterrey, helping Graham Potter’s men storm to the top of Group F with one of the most emphatic victories of the tournament so far.
Sweden wasted little time asserting their dominance, taking the lead in the seventh minute when Yasin Ayari unleashed a thunderous long-range strike into the top corner after Tunisia failed to clear their lines.
The pressure continued to mount and Isak doubled Sweden’s advantage on the half-hour mark. The Liverpool forward capped a flowing move after linking up expertly with Gyokeres, drilling a powerful finish beyond the Tunisian goalkeeper for his first World Cup goal.
Tunisia found a lifeline just before halftime when Omar Rekik glanced home a header from Hannibal Mejbri’s free-kick in the 43rd minute, reducing the deficit to 2-1 at the break.
Any hopes of a Tunisian comeback were quickly extinguished after the restart as Sweden’s attacking stars took centre stage once again.
Isak turned provider in the 59th minute, setting up Gyokeres for Sweden’s third goal as the Arsenal striker finished confidently to restore his side’s two-goal cushion.
The Scandinavian side continued to overwhelm Tunisia with their pace and movement. Substitute Mattias Svanberg added a fourth goal in the 84th minute, finding the net just 12 seconds after entering the pitch.
Ayari then completed the rout deep into stoppage time with another spectacular long-range effort, securing his brace and putting the finishing touch on a dominant Swedish performance.
While Ayari’s two goals earned him the Player of the Match award, the attacking partnership of Isak and Gyokeres proved instrumental in Sweden’s victory, contributing a goal and assist each while constantly troubling the Tunisian defence.
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The Brighton midfielder’s opener carried extra significance as it came against the country of his father’s birth. The 22-year-old chose not to celebrate and also became Sweden’s youngest World Cup goalscorer since Tomas Brolin in 1990.
The convincing win gives Sweden early control of Group F ahead of a heavyweight clash against the Netherlands on June 20, while Tunisia will look to bounce back when they face Japan in their next fixture.
With Isak and Gyokeres leading the charge, Sweden has sent a strong message to the rest of the tournament that they could be a serious force in the race for World Cup glory.
