Sweden crushes Tunisia 5-1, breaking their World Cup qualifying defensive record

Sweden defeated Tunisia 5-1 in their 2026 World Cup Group F match yesterday at Monterrey Stadium in Guadalupe, ending Tunisia's remarkable qualifying streak where they conceded zero goals - a feat only matched by Ivory Coast and England. Yasin Ayari scored twice (7th and 90th+ minutes), with Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyokeres, and Mattias Svanberg also scoring for Sweden. Tunisia's sole goal came from Omar Rekik just before halftime.

This loss severely damages Tunisia's World Cup prospects, as they now join the list of African teams that have never advanced beyond the group stage despite strong qualifying performances. For continental fans, it underscores the persistent challenge of translating qualifying dominance into World Cup success - a pattern where no African nation has reached the knockout rounds since 2010.

With Japan drawing 2-2 against Netherlands earlier in Group F, Sweden now leads the group heading into Tunisia's next match against the Dutch. Can Tunisia rediscover their defensive solidity to keep their World Cup dreams alive, or does this expose a critical vulnerability in their tournament approach?

SOURCE: https://www.channelstv.com/2026/06/15/sweden-thrash-tunisia-5-1-to-seize-control-of-world-cup-group/