Lindelof and Ayari praise Isak after Sweden's World Cup win
Short overview
Victor Lindelof and Yasin Ayari praised Alexander Isak after his standout performance in Sweden's 5-1 victory over Tunisia in their FIFA World Cup 2026 opener. Isak scored one goal and assisted two, earning Player of the Match honors.
Alexander Isak's impressive performance in Sweden's 5-1 victory over Tunisia came as no surprise to his teammates Victor Lindelof and Yasin Ayari. Isak scored one goal and set up two more as Sweden dominated their opening FIFA World Cup 2026 Group F fixture at Monterrey Stadium.
The performance earned Isak the Michelob Ultra Superior Player of the Match award. Lindelof, the Manchester United defender, said it was the perfect response to those who doubted the striker's form ahead of the tournament.
“I have huge admiration for him as a player and I have high expectations of him as well,” Lindelof told FIFA. “I expect nothing less from a player like him. People were questioning whether he was in good shape or in form before the World Cup and I think he showed it today with his performance.”
Ayari's emotional double
Ayari, who scored twice himself as Sweden soared to the top of Group F, was equally impressed with Isak's contribution.
“We know how good he is. We know what he can do when we give him the ball and today he showed in an important game what he can do,” the Brighton midfielder said.
The game held special significance for Ayari, whose father is Tunisian. “It was a tough game. An emotional game for me because this is my country as well,” he said. “I'm happy we could win the game and I'm happy to score two goals.”
Lindelof hails perfect start
Lindelof expressed delight with the result, which was Sweden's second-biggest win at the World Cup. It equaled the four-goal winning margin against Bulgaria in the 1994 play-off for third place, behind the record 8-0 victory over Cuba in 1938.
“Obviously very happy with the three points today,” Lindelof said. “It's so special to go into the first game of a big tournament so for us to get the three points today is the perfect start. In the first half we controlled the game well with the ball; second half we controlled the game well without the ball. We knew if we stayed compact they would lose the ball eventually and then we had big spaces to attack. I think the game plan was absolutely perfect and I'm super happy with how we performed with and without the ball.”
Sweden's next match is an all-European clash with the Netherlands at Houston Stadium on Saturday.
More on these topics
Uefa set to drop Fifa boycott threat after assurances
Uefa is expected to lift its threat of boycotting Fifa competitions after receiving assurances that plans to sell World Cup stakes to private investors will not be revived. The decision, to be discussed at Thursday's executive committee meeting, would allow the Under-20 Women's World Cup in Poland to proceed.
Graham Arnold signs six-month extension as Iraq head coach
Graham Arnold has signed a six-month contract extension with the Iraq Football Association, keeping him at the helm for the Gulf Cup and the 2025 AFC Asian Cup. Despite a four-year offer, Arnold chose a shorter term, citing mutual interests.
England Women U20s squad named amid Fifa boycott threat
England Women U20s head coach Lydia Bedford has named her 21-player squad for the Fifa U20s Women's World Cup in Poland, amid threats of a European boycott over the controversial Fifa Forward Enterprise proposal. The tournament runs from 5 to 27 September.
Senegal's Ndiaye: From Bundesliga Debut to World Cup Stage
Bara Sapoko Ndiaye, an 18-year-old midfielder, made his FIFA World Cup debut for Senegal in 2026 after a rapid rise from Bayern Munich's youth setup. His journey highlights a new generation of Senegalese talent poised to lead the national team.
