Sweden Prepares to Face Tunisia in World Cup Opener

Sweden will kick off their World Cup campaign against Tunisia in Guadalupe on Sunday, with the match set to take place at the Estadio Monterrey. This Group F encounter promises to be a captivating start for both teams, as Sweden aims to replicate their impressive quarter-final performance from 2018. Under the guidance of Graham Potter, the Swedish squad has undergone significant changes following a challenging qualification period.

Tunisia, making their seventh World Cup appearance, enters this tournament with a remarkable achievement, having topped their qualifying group without conceding a single goal. Coach Sabri Lamouchi's team is under pressure in a difficult group that includes the Netherlands and Japan, making this match crucial for both sides.

The match is scheduled for Monday, June 15, 2026, starting at 03:00 BST, with Argentine referee Yael Falcon Perez officiating. Their last encounter was a friendly in February 2003, where Tunisia secured a 1-0 victory.

On the injury front, Sweden's Graham Potter has reported no significant concerns for the opening match. Defender Emil Holm has already been ruled out, and Gabriel Gudmundsson is a slight doubt due to a recent illness. Should Gudmundsson miss out, either Daniel Svensson or Elliot Stroud could step in. Victor Lindelof, Anthony Elanga, Benjamin Nygren, and Alexander Bernhardsson have all returned from minor injuries, with Lindelof expected to play a key role in defense alongside Viktor Gyökeres and Alexander Isak leading the attack.

Tunisia's Sabri Lamouchi is anticipated to have a fully fit squad, likely making changes from the team that faced Belgium. Midfielder Hannibal Mejbri is expected to reclaim his place, while Rani Khedira returns to bolster the midfield. Omar Rekik will be crucial in defense, and Mouhib Chamakh is set to guard the goal for the Eagles of Carthage.

In terms of form, Sweden had a rocky start to their qualification efforts under former coach Jon Dahl Tomasson, finishing at the bottom of their group. However, a turnaround in the UEFA Nations League playoffs saw them progress. Conversely, Tunisia has enjoyed a successful qualifying campaign but faces uncertainty after recent defeats, including a penalty shootout loss to Mali in the Africa Cup of Nations and warm-up losses to Austria and Belgium.

Fans in the UK can catch the action live on ITV1, while viewers in the United States can follow the match on Fox Sports.