15/06/2026 04:36 - Deportes
Jugador de fútbol sueco celebrando un gol con respeto sin exageraciones, vistiendo camiseta amarilla de Suecia, estadio de fútbol moderno lleno de aficionados con banderas suecas
The Swedish national team began their World Cup 2026 campaign on the right foot after decisively defeating Tunisia 5-1 at the Monterrey Stadium, in the first round of Group F. The match, played on June 14, 2026, was officiated by Argentine referee Falcón Pérez and establishes the Scandinavians as sole leaders of their group.
Forward Alexander Isak opened the scoring in the 30th minute with an impressive long-range strike that left the Tunisian goalkeeper with no chance. The goal ignited the yellow celebration in the stands and set the course for the match.
| Minute | Player | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 30' | Alexander Isak | 🇸🇪 Sweden |
| 43' | Omar Rekik | 🇹🇳 Tunisia |
| Second Half | Viktor Gyökeres | 🇸🇪 Sweden |
| Second Half | Mattias Svanberg | 🇸🇪 Sweden |
| Second Half | Yasin Ayari (x2) | 🇸🇪 Sweden |
Yasin Ayari was the standout player of the match with a brace of stunning goals. The Swedish midfielder, born in Stockholm to Tunisian parents, had a special night that will mark his career.
Highlight: Ayari came on as a substitute and needed only 17 seconds to score his first goal, setting a tournament record for fastest goal by a substitute.
One of the most emotional moments of the night came when Yasin Ayari decided not to celebrate his goals. The player, who declined to play for Tunisia and chose to represent Sweden, publicly apologized to his mother after scoring against the country of his ancestors.
The Tunisian federation had attempted to naturalize him to play for their national team, but Ayari chose Sweden, where he developed his entire youth career. His respectful gesture was widely praised on social media and by sports media outlets worldwide.
"I apologized to my mother because I didn't celebrate the goals. This is a very special moment for me and my family."
- Yasin Ayari
| Team | Pts | GD |
|---|---|---|
| 🇸🇪 Sweden | 3 | +4 |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 0 | 0 |
| 🇯🇵 Japan | 0 | 0 |
| 🇹🇳 Tunisia | 0 | -4 |
Graham Potter, Sweden's head coach, showed caution despite the blowout: "We haven't done anything yet. This is just the first match and there's a long way to go."
Meanwhile, Tunisia's manager Sabri Lamouchi acknowledged his team's mistakes: "We need to correct many things. It wasn't our best night, but the tournament has just begun."
Group F consists of Sweden, Netherlands, Japan, and Tunisia. The Swedish team leads on goal difference after this victory, while Tunisia sits at the bottom and will need to recover in the upcoming rounds. The World Cup 2026's 48-team format allows the top two teams from each group plus the four best third-place teams to advance to the Round of 32.
Sources: La Nación, TyC Sports, ESPN Argentina
Alfredo S. Quiroga
