One of the standout images from the start of this World Cup.
During the night from Sunday to Monday, Sweden thrashed Tunisia (5-1) in their opening match of the 2026 World Cup.
Graham Potter’s players were notably able to rely on a very early opener from Yasin Ayari, who produced a magnificent strike in the seventh minute.
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While many players would have run around the stadium three times to celebrate their first goal at a World Cup, the 22-year-old Swedish star chose not to celebrate this sublime finish.
The reason? Well, it turns out Ayari was born in Sweden to parents of Tunisian origin. A few years ago, he had even come very close to joining the Tunisian national team.
📸 JULIO CESAR AGUILAR – AFP or licensors
📸 JULIO CESAR AGUILAR – AFP or licensors
Before the match, he had even told the press: “it was quite easy for me (to choose between the two countries), because I was born in Sweden and I was part of the national teams when I was younger, he said to the press. My father told me: ‘It’s your decision’ […] My mother and father are from those countries. When I was little, I spent a lot of time there on vacation.”
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After scoring a brace late in the match, Ayari still ended up celebrating his second goal.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.
