10 days · 11 summary articles
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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