Tuesday June 16, 2026
Sweden produced a ruthless statement in Guadalupe, dismantling Tunisia 5-1 to shatter the North African side’s defensive record and move into command of World Cup Group F in the Mexican city’s first match of the tournament.
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Graham Potter’s side struck early on Sunday, with midfielder Yasin Ayari curling in a powerful effort from outside the box in the seventh minute after confusion at the back opened the door.
Ayari, who has Moroccan and Tunisian heritage, offered only a subdued reaction after his excellent finish.
Sweden doubled their advantage on the half-hour mark when a swift counterattack sent Alexander Isak racing down the left.
The Liverpool forward drove forward, cut inside and let fly, and although goalkeeper Mouhib Chamakh got a touch, he could not keep the shot out.
Tunisia had gone through qualifying without conceding a goal, becoming the first team to do so before that feat was later matched by Ivory Coast and England.
For long stretches, Sweden looked capable of running away with the game, but Tunisia briefly changed the tone before halftime when Omar Rekik rose to head in Hannibal Mejbri’s inviting cross.
Still, the Scandinavians quickly reasserted control and restored their two-goal cushion in the 59th minute after Tunisia were punished for another costly error.
Ellyes Skhiri was caught in possession near the edge of the area by Isak, who slipped the ball to Viktor Gyokeres, and the Arsenal forward made no mistake.
Substitute Mattias Svanberg added a fourth late in the contest after VAR confirmed he was onside.
Ayari then capped the scoring with another outstanding strike from outside the penalty area.
Sweden previously reached the quarterfinals of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, though they failed to qualify for the tournament in Qatar four years later.
Tunisia, the first African nation to win a World Cup match after beating Mexico in 1978, have still never gone beyond the group stage.
