Sweden Defeats Tunisia 5-1 in Opening 2026 World Cup Match
Sweden began their 2026 World Cup campaign with a 5-1 win over Tunisia in their first group stage fixture. The result places the Scandinavian side at the top of their group standings.
Sweden took the lead in the seventh minute of the match. Yasin Ayari struck the ball from outside the penalty area following a series of rebounds to open the scoring. The team extended their advantage in the 30th minute when Alexander Isak received a pass from Viktor Gyökeres and directed the ball into the far corner of the net.
Tunisia reduced the deficit shortly before the interval. In the 43rd minute Omar Rekik won an aerial challenge following a cross from Hannibal Mejbri and headed the ball past the goalkeeper to make it 2-1.
Second-half goals
Tunisia attempted to equalise in the second half but a defensive error in the 60th minute restored Sweden’s two-goal lead. Ellyes Skhiri lost possession near his own penalty area. Isak intercepted the ball and immediately passed to Gyökeres who successfully converted the opportunity.
Sweden maintained control for the remainder of the fixture under the management of Graham Potter. Mattias Svanberg scored a fourth goal for the team in the 86th minute. The match official initially disallowed the goal for offside but the decision was overturned and the goal was awarded following a VAR review.
Ayari then scored his second goal of the match during the sixth minute of stoppage time to finalise the 5-1 result.
