Sweden vs Tunisia
Sweden steamroll Tunisia in five-goal rout
A commanding display sees Sweden dominate with Y. Ayari starring twice.
Sweden delivered a dominant performance against Tunisia, cruising to a 5-1 victory in the World Cup. Y. Ayari opened the scoring early and capped the win with a late goal, while A. Isak, V. Gyökeres, and M. Svanberg also found the net. Tunisia's O. Rekik managed a consolation, but it was Sweden's day all over. Fipster's prediction of a home win was spot on, though the margin was far more emphatic than expected.
Analysis
The FIFA World Cup 2026 kicks off with Sweden facing Tunisia in a Group Stage match that promises a competitive clash. Both teams bring contrasting strengths to the pitch, with Sweden boasting a squad rich in top European league talent, while Tunisia arrives with impressive qualifying form.
Sweden enters this match with 12 prior World Cup appearances and a best finish as runners-up in 1958. Tunisia has participated six times before, with their best result being the group stage. Neither team is hosting, as the tournament is held across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Sweden qualified directly, finishing fourth in their group, while Tunisia topped their qualifying group with a strong record.
Sweden holds a strong squad calibre advantage, featuring 14 players in top-5 European leagues including defender Victor Lindelöf of Aston Villa and striker Alexander Isak of Liverpool. Tunisia, with six players in similar leagues such as midfielder Ellyes Skhiri of Eintracht Frankfurt, relies on solid recent form, having won all their last five matches. However, the group stage phase heavily favours squad quality, giving Sweden the upper hand despite Tunisia's momentum.
Prediction
Expect Sweden to take an early lead, going into halftime 1-0 up, thanks to their attacking prowess. Tunisia will respond, making it a close contest, but Sweden's depth and experience should see them clinch a 2-1 victory. The match is predicted to feature three cards, reflecting a competitive but fair encounter.
Outcome probability
Key Insights
Sweden's Premier League Experience Edge
Sweden fields multiple top5EU league players, providing higher quality and tactical discipline.
Home Advantage Boosts Sweden's Scoring Probability
Sweden's predicted 2 goals align with strong home scoring trends of key attackers.
Tunisia's Midfield Creativity Could Challenge Defense
Midfielders like Skhiri and Gharbi can create chances despite away status, keeping Tunisia competitive.
No Injuries Reported for Either Team
Full squads available, allowing both teams to field strongest lineups and tactical plans.
Key Takeaways
This opening fixture sets the tone for Group Stage action, with Sweden's quality likely to prevail over Tunisia's spirited challenge. Fans can anticipate a tightly contested game with moments of skill and tactical discipline, ultimately favouring the European side.
- Sweden has 12 prior World Cup appearances with a best finish as runners-up in 1958.
- Tunisia has 6 prior World Cup appearances, best finish is the group stage.
- Neither Sweden nor Tunisia is hosting the 2026 World Cup.
- Sweden qualified directly, finishing 4th in their qualifying group.
- Tunisia topped their qualifying group with 28 points and a +22 goal difference.
- Sweden's squad includes 14 players in top-5 European leagues, Tunisia has 6.
- Sweden's key players include Victor Lindelöf (Aston Villa) and Alexander Isak (Liverpool).
- Tunisia's key players include Ellyes Skhiri (Eintracht Frankfurt) and Rami Khedira (Union Berlin).
Player Insights
Standout players Fipster expects to impact the match — curated highlights, not full squad lists
Home — Sweden
Away — Tunisia
Form as the teams went into this match — excludes this result and anything since.
Team Comparison
Season shape — attack, defence, form, clean sheets & win rate
Season comparison
Goals scored & conceded, goal difference and clean sheets across the season
Halftime Performance
What each side does once the whistle goes for half time
Streaks
Recent-form runs — each side’s most-recent game meets in the middle
Head to Head
FIFA world ranking
Ayari
Isak
Assist: Gyökeres
Rekik
Assist: Mejbri
Khedira
Yellow Card
Gyökeres
Assist: Isak
Gudmundsson
Nygren
Saad
Valery
Skhiri
Khedira
Ben Slimane
Karlström
Svanberg
Assist: Isak
Bernhardsson
Isak
Ayari
Assist: Bergvall
Match Statistics
Sweden
3-1-4-2Starting XI
- 2G. LagerbielkeD
- 3V. LindelöfD
- 4I. HienD
- 5G. GudmundssonM
- 9A. IsakF
- 10B. NygrenM
- 16J. KarlströmM
- 17V. GyökeresF
- 18Y. AyariM
- 21A. BernhardssonM
- 23K. NordfeldtG
Substitutes
- 1J. Widell ZetterströmG
- 6H. JohanssonM
- 7L. BergvallM
- 8D. SvenssonD
- 11A. ElangaF
- 12V. JohanssonG
- 13K. SemaM
- 14H. EkdalD
- 15C. StarfeltD
- 19M. SvanbergM
- 20E. SmithD
- 22B. ZeneliM
- 24E. StroudM
- 25G. NilssonF
- 26T. AliM
Tunisia
5-3-2Starting XI
- 1C. AbdelmouhibG
- 2A. AbdiD
- 3M. TalbiD
- 4O. RekikD
- 8E. SaadF
- 10H. MejbriM
- 13R. KhediraM
- 17E. SkhiriM
- 20Y. ValeryD
- 21A. Ben HmidaD
- 25A. Ben SlimaneF
Substitutes
- 5A. ArousD
- 6D. BronnD
- 7E. AchouriM
- 9H. MastouriF
- 11Ismaël GharbiF
- 12M. Ben OuanesM
- 14K. AyariF
- 15H. MahmoudM
- 16A. DahmenG
- 18R. ElloumiF
- 19F. ChaouatF
- 22S. Ben HsanG
- 23M. NeffatiD
- 24R. ChikhaouiD
- 26S. TounektiF
Sweden
| Player | Pos | Min | Rating | G | A | Shots | SoT | Key Passes | Dribbles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander Isak | F | 91 | 8.9 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0/2 |
| Yasin Ayari | M | 96 | 8.3 | 2 | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0/1 |
| Viktor Gyökeres | F | 96 | 8.2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 1/3 |
| Gabriel Gudmundsson | M | 65 | 7.2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Benjamin Nygren | M | 65 | 7.0 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2/4 |
| Isak Hien | D | 96 | 6.9 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Gustaf Lagerbielke | D | 96 | 6.9 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — |
| Alexander Bernhardsson | M | 91 | 6.7 | — | — | — | — | — | 1/3 |
| Kristoffer Nordfeldt | G | 96 | 6.5 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Jesper Karlström | M | 84 | 6.5 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — |
| Victor Lindelöf(C) | D | 96 | 6.2 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — |
| Substitutes | |||||||||
| Ken Sema | M | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Eric Smith | D | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Gustaf Nilsson | F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Hjalmar Ekdal | D | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Carl Starfelt | D | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Jacob Widell Zetterström | G | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Anthony Elanga | F | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Viktor Johansson | G | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Taha Abdi Ali | M | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Herman Johansson | M | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Daniel Svensson | D | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Besfort Zeneli | M | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Mattias Svanberg | M | 12 | 7.3 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| Elliot Stroud | M | 31 | 6.9 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Lucas Bergvall | M | 31 | 6.6 | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | 1/1 |
Tunisia
| Player | Pos | Min | Rating | G | A | Shots | SoT | Key Passes | Dribbles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hannibal Mejbri | M | 96 | 7.3 | — | 1 | 1 | — | 3 | 2/2 |
| Omar Rekik | D | 96 | 7.2 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| Montassar Talbi | D | 96 | 7.0 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — |
| Amine Ben Hmida | D | 96 | 6.9 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Elias Saad | F | 72 | 6.7 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1/4 |
| Anis Ben Slimane | F | 84 | 6.3 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0/1 |
| Rani Khedira | M | 83 | 5.9 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Ellyes Skhiri(C) | M | 72 | 5.9 | — | — | — | — | — | 0/1 |
| Yan Valery | D | 72 | 5.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 2/3 |
| Ali Abdi | D | 96 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 1/2 |
| Abdelmouhib Chamakh | G | 96 | 4.3 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Substitutes | |||||||||
| Rayan Elloumi | F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Dylan Bronn | D | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Sabri Ben Hessen | G | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Aymen Dahmen | G | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Mortadha Ben Ouanes | M | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Hazem Mastouri | F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Moataz Nefati | D | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Adem Arous | D | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Khalil Ayari | F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Raed Chikhaoui | D | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Mohamed Belhadj Mahmoud | M | 24 | 6.7 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Firas Chaouat | F | 12 | 6.5 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Elias Achouri | M | 24 | 6.3 | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| Sebastian Tounekti | F | 24 | 6.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 0/2 |
| Ismael Gharbi | F | 13 | 6.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |