Isak Inspires Sweden to Commanding World Cup Opening Win Over Tunisia

Alexander Isak announced himself on the World Cup stage in emphatic fashion, scoring and assisting twice as Sweden opened their campaign on Sunday, June 14, 2026, with a 5-1 victory over Tunisia in Monterrey. 

The Liverpool striker, making his first appearance at a World Cup, produced the kind of decisive attacking display Sweden had been waiting for. After an injury-disrupted spell since his £125 million move to Anfield in September, Isak looked sharp, direct and clinical, driving in from the left before drilling a powerful finish into the bottom corner after 30 minutes.

His goal came from a well-worked move involving Viktor Gyokeres, with the Arsenal forward showing strength on the halfway line before releasing Isak into space. The finish doubled Sweden’s lead and underlined the quality of a forward line built around two of the Premier League’s most high-profile Scandinavian attackers.

Sweden had already taken control inside the opening seven minutes. Yasin Ayari punished a loose Tunisian defensive sequence with a superb strike into the top corner, giving Graham Potter’s side the ideal start. For the Brighton midfielder, the moment carried added emotion. The 22-year-old, who made his senior international debut in 2023 while on loan at Coventry City, became Sweden’s youngest World Cup scorer since Tomas Brolin in 1990. His decision not to celebrate reflected the personal significance of scoring against the country of his father’s birth.

Tunisia briefly threatened to make a contest of it before the interval. Omar Rekik rose well to head in Hannibal Mejbri’s free-kick two minutes before half-time, reducing the deficit and giving the North African side hope after a difficult opening spell.

But Sweden reasserted their authority after the break. Isak turned creator on the hour mark, setting up Gyokeres to restore the two-goal cushion. The Liverpool forward then added another assist late on, teeing up Mattias Svanberg, who scored just 18 seconds after coming off the bench.

Svanberg’s impact was historically quick. It was the second-fastest goal by a substitute at a World Cup since 1966, behind only Richard Morales’ 16-second strike for Uruguay against Senegal in 2002.

Ayari then completed a memorable individual performance with another long-range effort, sealing Sweden’s fifth goal and capping a dominant opening statement. His second strike added gloss to a performance defined by intensity, precision and attacking depth.

For Sweden, the result sends them top of Group F and provides early evidence that Potter’s side can be more than a disciplined tournament team. With Isak returning to form, Gyokeres offering physical presence and Ayari emerging as a midfield threat, Sweden’s World Cup campaign has begun with confidence, authority and a warning to the rest of the group.

This report is based on live match coverage, official match data and post-match reporting from Sweden’s Group F opener against Tunisia.

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