Sweden's World Cup Statement
Sweden Dominates Tunisia 5-1 in World Cup Return, Securing Group F Advantage
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Sweden returned to the World Cup in emphatic fashion on Sunday night, crushing Tunisia 5-1 in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, to move to the top of Group F AP. Yasin Ayari scored twice, Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyökeres each added a goal and an assist, and substitute Mattias Svanberg scored just 18 seconds after coming on — leaving no doubt about which side belonged in the tournament.
The result is all the more striking given Tunisia's pedigree. The "Eagles of Carthage" completed their CAF qualifying campaign without conceding a single goal, earning 28 out of a possible 30 points Sky Sports. The 5-1 scoreline shook the tournament.
Ayari's Thunderbolts Blow Tunisia Apart Early
Ayari struck first in the 7th minute with a long-range thunderbolt after a Tunisian defensive mix-up AP. Isak doubled the lead in the 30th minute, cutting in from the left to beat goalkeeper Mouhib Chamakh. Tunisia pulled one back just before half-time when Omar Rekik headed home a cross from Hannibal Mejbri, making it 2-1 at the break.
Gyökeres restored the two-goal cushion in the 59th minute after Isak dispossessed Ellyes Skhiri on the edge of the box Sky Sports. Svanberg then scored at the 84th minute — his goal confirmed after a VAR review for offside. Ayari sealed it in the 96th minute with another long-range strike into the bottom-left corner, assisted by Lucas Bergvall. The stadium played Avicii at the final whistle.
Isak and Gyökeres Form Sweden's Lethal Attacking Duo
Isak recorded his 18th international goal and added two assists, this despite suffering a broken leg during his club season at Liverpool Sky Sports. Gyökeres netted his 21st international goal — his 16th in just 15 appearances. Football journalist Patrick Rowe noted the pair's synergy "put the fixture firmly in their control," solving the offensive struggles that had plagued Sweden's qualifying run.
Manager Graham Potter called it a "fantastic, great performance" and said the team "could have scored more" KOIN. Tunisia's Sabri Lamouchi gave a terse post-match interview, blaming "individual mistakes" for the collapse. Analysts pointed to goalkeeper Chamakh, who "struggled all night" against Sweden's high press.
Ayari's Muted Celebration Tells a Bigger Story
Despite scoring twice, Ayari refused to celebrate either goal. Born in Solna, Sweden, his father is from Tunisia — making the match deeply personal Sky Sports. His restrained reaction became one of the most talked-about moments of the night, seen as a symbol of the modern, multicultural makeup of Graham Potter's squad.
It was also Ayari's first-ever World Cup appearance HNG News. Sweden's depth added to the story — fan discussion online highlighted substitutes like Anthony Elanga and Bergvall as key assets, suggesting the team is not reliant on just one or two stars in the expanded 48-team format.
Sweden Sits Alone at Top as Tunisia Faces Must-Win Pressure
Sweden's win landed perfectly. The other Group F match between Japan and the Netherlands ended 2-2, leaving Sweden alone at the top of the table with a +4 goal difference Value the Markets. In the 48-team World Cup format, goal difference is critical — even a third-place finish with that margin would likely secure a knockout-round berth.
Sweden reached this World Cup the hard way. They finished bottom of their initial qualifying group and only secured their spot through a Nations League playoff, beating Ukraine and Poland in March 2026 Big Rapids News. Tunisia, meanwhile, now face a must-win game against Japan on June 20. Sweden's next match is against the Netherlands in Houston the same day.
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