Sweden thrashes Tunisia 5-1 as Yasin Ayari scores twice in World Cup opener

Pre-match context

Both Sweden and Tunisia arrived in Monterrey after recent coaching changes and playoff paths. Sweden missed the 2022 World Cup and endured a dismal qualifying campaign before Graham Potter took charge, ultimately guiding them through the playoffs with a dramatic win over Poland. Tunisia, having also cycled through multiple managers during qualifying, installed Sabri Lamouchi and brought in 11 new players who had not featured at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Early blow and response

Ayari, the Brighton midfielder born in Sweden to a Tunisian father, opened the scoring in the seventh minute when he rifled in from distance after Tunisia failed to clear a ball over the top. He did not celebrate out of respect for his father's country. Isak, the Liverpool forward putting an injury-hit club season behind him, doubled the lead just before the half hour by cutting inside from the left and beating goalkeeper Mouhib Chamakh at the far post. Tunisia pulled one back in the 44th minute when Omar Rekik headed in a Hannibal Mejbri cross, halving the deficit at the break.

Second-half control

Sweden restored their two-goal cushion before the hour mark after a Tunisian mistake: captain Ellyes Skhiri dawdled in possession near his box, Isak pounced and squared for Arsenal's Viktor Gyökeres to finish with composure. Substitute Mattias Svanberg then added a fourth moments after entering the pitch, his goal confirmed after a ball-sensor-based VAR review overruled an initial offside decision. Ayari completed the scoring deep into stoppage time with another long-range blast to make the final margin 5-1.

Group standings

Potter, who earlier described the playoff victory over Poland – secured by Gyökeres' 89th-minute winner – as his best night in football, now sees Sweden top Group F. Earlier Sunday, the higher-ranked Netherlands and Japan drew 2-2 in Arlington, Texas. Sweden, ranked 39th in the world, will face both later in the group phase while 45th-ranked Tunisia seeks its first knockout stage appearance after seven World Cup trips.