FIFA World Cup 2026 — Group F, Matchday 1 | June 14 | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
MEXICO CITY — When Mattias Svanberg stepped onto the pitch in the 84th minute, he probably expected to ease himself into the game. Twelve seconds later, he had written his name into World Cup history.
The Wolfsburg midfielder scored with his very first touch — the fastest goal by a substitute in World Cup history — as Sweden demolished Tunisia 5-1 at the iconic Estadio Azteca. Yasin Ayari scored twice, Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres added one each, and Graham Potter’s reign as Sweden manager began with a statement of intent that echoed across Group F.
The Ayari Thunderbolt
The match was four minutes old when Sweden struck. A rapid counter-attack saw Gyokeres’ goal-bound effort cleared off the line, but the ball fell to Ayari 30 yards from goal. The 22-year-old Brighton midfielder took one touch to steady himself, then unleashed a thunderbolt that flew past Abdelmouhib Chamakh before the Tunisian goalkeeper could even move.
1-0. It was the kind of goal that makes you leap out of your seat — and it set the tone for everything that followed.
Isak Answers His Critics
Alexander Isak arrived at this World Cup under a cloud. A record-breaking transfer from Newcastle to Liverpool had been followed by an injury-plagued season. The question on everyone’s lips: could he deliver for Sweden on the biggest stage?
The answer came in the 30th minute. Gyokeres, operating as the fulcrum, flicked a pass out to the left wing where Isak was already accelerating. The Liverpool striker cut inside, shifted the ball onto his right foot, and rifled a shot into the far corner. 2-0. Question answered.
Tunisia’s Flicker of Hope
Just before half-time, Tunisia gave themselves a lifeline. Hannibal Mejbri — the former Manchester United academy product — delivered a pinpoint free-kick onto the head of defender Omar Rekik. The 24-year-old met it powerfully, glancing the ball past Kristoffer Nordfelt. 2-1 at the break. Game on.
The Second-Half Onslaught
If Tunisia had any belief at half-time, it was extinguished within ten minutes of the restart. The fatal blow came from an unlikely source — Ellyes Skhiri, the Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder and Tunisia captain, whose CV is the most impressive in the squad. He received a short pass from Chamakh inside his own box and, under pressure from Isak, gifted the ball straight to the Liverpool man. Isak released Gyokeres in the right channel, and the Arsenal striker thumped a clinical finish past Chamakh. 3-1.
The floodgates were open.
In the 84th minute, Svanberg replaced Benjamin Nygren. The ball was in play. A cross came in from the right, Isak touched it on, and Svanberg — with his very first involvement — bundled the ball home. The clock showed 12 seconds since his introduction. A World Cup record.
In stoppage time, Ayari added his second — another unstoppable drive from the edge of the box — to complete the rout. 5-1.
The Isak-Gyokeres Partnership
The most striking feature of Sweden’s performance was the chemistry between their two star strikers. Isak and Gyokeres are rivals at club level — Liverpool versus Arsenal — but in the yellow of Sweden, they looked like they had been playing together for a decade. Gyokeres’ hold-up play, physical presence, and selfless running created the platform for Isak’s pace, movement, and finishing. Together, they were unplayable.
Graham Potter, who took over as Sweden manager in October, could not have asked for a better competitive debut. His side were clinical, ruthless, and utterly dominant.
Group F Standings
Sweden sit atop Group F with a +4 goal difference. Netherlands and Japan, who played out a 2-2 draw earlier in the day, are tied on one point each. Tunisia, with a -4 goal difference, are bottom.
Next up for Sweden: a clash with the Netherlands that could all but decide the group winner. On this evidence, the Dutch should be very worried.