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Two goals from Ayari and one each from Isak, Gyokeres and Svanberg took Sweden to the top of Group F in Monterrey.
Updated on 15 Jun 2026
Sweden crushed Tunisia 5-1 to end the country’s record defense in North Africa and win Group F of the World Cup as the Mexican city of Guadalupe hosted its first match of the tournament.
Graham Potter’s men took the lead in the seventh minute of Sunday’s game, thanks to midfielder Yasin Ayari’s thunderbolt from outside the box, following a mix-up at the back.
The celebrations of Ayari, who is of Moroccan and Tunisian origin, were extinguished, although he finished well.
Sweden doubled their lead after half an hour after a quick break set Alexander Isak free on the left.
The Liverpool striker raced forward and cut inside before unleashing a shot, which goalkeeper Mouhib Chamakh failed to clear, despite holding onto the ball.
Tunisia did not concede a single goal in qualifying, becoming the first side to do so, which equaled the Ivory Coast and England.
Sweden threatened to beat their opponents, but the game took a turn just before half-time, when Omar Rekik headed home Hannibal Mejbri’s taunting cross.
However, Scandinavia pulled two goals back in the 59th minute after another Tunisian defensive disaster.
Midfielder Ellyes Skhiri was caught on the edge of the box by Isak, who fed Viktor Gyokeres, and the Arsenal man fired home.
Substitute Mattias Svanberg made it 4-1 late on when VAR ruled him offside.
And there was no time for another stunning goal from Ayari from outside the penalty box.
Sweden reached the quarterfinals of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, but failed to qualify for the tournament in Qatar four years later.
Tunisia became the first African team to win the World Cup when they beat Mexico in 1978, but they never made it past the group stage.
