Sweden showcased their strength in the 2026 World Cup with a 5-1 victory over Tunisia, led by goals from Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres.
In a commanding display at the 2026 World Cup, Sweden overwhelmed Tunisia with a score of 5-1, asserting their position at the top of Group F. The match, held in Monterrey, featured a standout performance from the attacking duo of Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres, both of whom contributed to the scoreboard.
Isak, who struggled during his debut season with Liverpool, turned around his fortunes with a remarkable showing. He not only scored a stunning solo goal but also played a crucial role in the buildup of several other goals, demonstrating that Graham Potter's team was living up to their expectations prior to the tournament.
The opening goal came in the seventh minute from Yasin Ayari of Brighton. Despite his Tunisian heritage, Ayari showed no hesitation as he fired a shot from the edge of the box, capitalizing on a chaotic sequence where Tunisia's Mouhib Chamakh initially thwarted efforts from Isak and Gyokeres.
Tunisia, entering the tournament with a strong defensive reputation from their qualifying matches, found that reputation quickly dismantled. Sweden doubled their lead through a rapid counter-attack, initiated by Isak, who skillfully evaded the Tunisian defense. He cut inside and curled a precise shot into the far corner of the net.
Just before halftime, Tunisia managed to score, providing a brief flicker of hope for a comeback. Omar Rekik found the net with a header from a well-placed cross by Hannibal Mejbri, taking advantage of a rare defensive lapse from Sweden as they headed into the break.
Any chance of a Tunisian resurgence was extinguished in the 59th minute when Sweden's aggressive high press paid off. Isak pressured captain Ellyes Skhiri into a significant mistake near the penalty area, allowing Arsenal's Gyokeres to seize the opportunity and extend Sweden's lead.
With this goal, the Swedes settled down and began to exhibit the confidence of true contenders. Late in the match, Mattias Svanberg, who had just been substituted in, made an immediate impact by scoring after a clever flick from Isak. Although the assistant referee initially flagged the goal offside, a VAR review confirmed that Isak's touch had kept Svanberg onside, bringing the score to 4-1.
In stoppage time, Ayari added his second goal of the match, pouncing on a loose ball to cap off the impressive 5-1 victory.
Following this result, Sweden finds themselves firmly in first place in Group F, holding a three-point lead over their nearest competitors after the match between the Netherlands and Japan ended in a draw. Meanwhile, Tunisia faces a challenging road ahead as they strive to keep their hopes for advancing in the tournament alive.
Sweden's next challenge will be against the Netherlands, who will be eager to recover from their earlier draw. Tunisia, on the other hand, will aim to rebound and avoid an early exit by securing a win against Japan. Both of these crucial matches are scheduled for June 20.
