Ayari made a dream World Cup debut at BBVA Stadium in Monterrey on 14/6. In the 7th minute, the Swedish international capitalized on a rebound outside the box, striking a powerful shot across the goal to open the scoring. He completed his brace in the 6th minute of added time with another forceful finish from outside the penalty area, sealing the 5-1 win.

This double strike etched Ayari's name into Swedish football history. At 22 years and 251 days old, he became the youngest player to score for the Nordic team at a World Cup since 1990, when Tomas Brolin netted at 20 years and 190 days against Brazil. Ayari is also the first Swedish player to score a brace at a World Cup since former striker Henrik Larsson in 2002.

"It is unbelievable. I cannot describe this feeling", Ayari shared after the match.

Yasin Ayari's restrained celebration during Sweden's 5-1 victory over Tunisia in their opening Group F match at the 2026 World Cup at BBVA Stadium, Monterrey, Mexico on 14/6/2026. Photo: AP

Ayari's story could have unfolded differently. His father, Azzouz Ayari, is of Tunisian descent. In an interview with the daily Aftonbladet, he revealed that the Tunisian national team had previously invited Ayari to join them for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Consequently, after scoring the opening goal against Tunisia, Ayari simply raised his hand in apology instead of celebrating. "I did not celebrate", he admitted. "But I am truly very happy. Sweden is my second home, after all. Before the match, I experienced many emotions."

For his second goal, with the outcome already decided, Ayari showed more emotion. "It was fantastic. The entire stadium felt like a festival. Everywhere I looked, I saw fans singing and dancing. That is exactly the image I remember from my childhood, watching the World Cup on television", the 22-year-old midfielder expressed.

Ayari's younger brother, Taha, also currently plays for the Swedish national team.

Yasin Ayari's opening goal from the stands. Video: Youtube / IniYandi

Ayari developed at AIK and currently plays for Brighton in the English Premier League. In the 2025-2026 season, the midfielder had a standout performance, contributing four goals and three assists in 32 matches. Despite his individual success, he prioritizes team achievement.

"I am satisfied with my performance, but above all, I think about the team. If the team wins and I do not score, I am still just as happy", Ayari stated, emphasizing the strength of the Swedish squad. "When no one believed in us, the whole team remained united and kept faith. The opportunity came, and we knew we had to seize it. From the start of the match, the entire team stepped onto the field to show their potential."

Another Premier League striker who shone was Alexander Isak. The 26-year-old center-forward contributed one goal, one assist, and created space that drew the Tunisian goalkeeper out of position, leading to Ayari's opening goal.

The daily Sportbladet noted that Isak "dominated the match" on his way to earning the Player of the Match award. Meanwhile, Göteborgs-Posten suggested that the striker had truly "returned" after an injury-plagued season at Liverpool. In the summer of 2025, Isak transferred to Liverpool for a Premier League record fee of 175,5 million USD. However, his contributions were limited due to recurring injuries, scoring only three goals in 21 Premier League and Champions League appearances.

When assessing his individual performance, Isak humbly commented: "Just like the rest of the team – very good. We scored quite early, and that made it easier to execute our game plan."

Alexander Isak (right) celebrates with Viktor Gyokeres. Photo: AP

Isak also discussed his partnership with Viktor Gyokeres upfront: "The plan was for us to make a difference on counter-attacks. Both of us had to operate at maximum intensity and recover quickly. Everything worked very well. Good coordination does not necessarily mean constantly passing or assisting each other. The most important thing is to contribute to the team."

In their second match on 20/6, Sweden will face the Netherlands, while Tunisia will play Japan.

Hong Duy (according to Marca, Daily Mail)