Sweden vs Tunisia Preview: Team News & Prediction | FIFA World Cup 2026 | Group Stage
Entering through the backdoor of UEFA qualification for FIFA World Cup 2026, Sweden kick off their campaign against the stubborn Tunisians in Monterrey.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – ITV / USA – FOX Sports
How to watch online: UK – ITVX / USA – FOX One
Sweden preview: Improved Swedes
Graham Potter took charge of a significantly underperforming Sweden side and, initially, failed to get any improvement out of them as they finished rock-bottom of their qualifying group without a win against Switzerland, Slovenia and Kosovo.
Their 2024/25 UEFA Nations League performance allowed them into the play-offs, though, and the Viktor Gyokeres-inspired Swedes defeated Ukraine by three goals to one in Poland before then beating the Polish by two goals to nil in Stockholm.
Tunisia preview: A change of era
Tunisia underwhelmed at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year and that led to a change in management with former France international and former Nottingham Forest boss Sabri Lamouchi taking charge of the Eagles of Carthage a few months ago.
Lamouchi, quite surprisingly, has taken the decision to cull a lot of the experienced members of the Tunisian squad. The North Africans still have a bit of fair bit of experience and some quality but their intent will be to try and soak up pressure and, as ever, be awkward to play against.
Sweden team news
Team news will appear here closer to the match…
Predicted XI (X-X-X-X): TBC
Unavailable: TBC
Questionable: TBC
Tunisia team news
Team news will appear here closer to the match…
Predicted XI (X-X-X-X): TBC
Unavailable: TBC
Questionable: TBC
Sweden’s top FIFA World Cup Fantasy assets
Victor Lindelof ($1.9m) – Defender
Alexander Isak ($8.0m) – Forward
Viktor Gyokeres ($7.8m) – Forward
Matchday 1 captain pick: Viktor Gyokeres
Set-piece duty
Penalties: Viktor Gyokeres, Alexander Isak
Free kicks: Anthony Elanga, Mattias Svanberg
Corners: Daniel Svensson, Anthony Elanga, Yasin Ayari
Tunisia’s top FIFA World Cup Fantasy assets
Montassar Talbi ($3.9m) – Defender
Anis Ben Silmane ($5.3m) – Midfielder
Hannibal Mejbri ($4.8m) – Midfielder
Matchday 1 captain pick: Hannibal Mejbri
Set-piece duty
Penalties: Ismael Gharbi, Ali Abdi
Free kicks: Hannibal Mejbri
Corners: Hannibal Mejbri, Ali Abdi, Ismael Gharbi
Key stats
- Sweden are lining up in their 13th edition of the FIFA World Cup and are returning for the first time since 2018.
- Sweden’s best FIFA World Cup result came in 1958, when they finished as runners‑up to Brazil on home soil. The Swedes have placed in the top four on three other occasions: finishing third in both 1950 and 1994 and fourth in 1938.
- Sweden have lost their opening fixture in only two of their 12 previous FIFA World Cup participations (W5 D5): a 1-0 defeat to Italy in 1970 and a 2-1 loss to Brazil in 1990.
- Tunisia will make their seventh FIFA World Cupappearance in 2026, marking their third consecutive qualification. They have now reached six of the last eight editions.
- The Carthage Eagles made history on their World Cup debut in 1978, defeating Mexico 3-1 in their opening match to become the first African team to win a game at the tournament.
- Tunisia are aiming to open a FIFA World Cup campaign with a victory for the first time since their 3-1 win over Mexico in their debut tournament in 1978.
- Tunisia’s Sabri Lamouchi is in his second FIFA World Cup as a head coach, having previously led Côte d’Ivoire at the 2014 finals, where they were eliminated in the group stage.
- At 20 years and 132 days, Lucas Bergvall could become the youngest Swedish player ever to appear in a FIFA World Cup match, breaking the record held by Jesper Blomqvist (20 years, 134 days) against Cameroon on 19 June 1994.
- At 18 years and 270 days, Rayan Elloumi could become the youngest player ever to appear for Tunisia at a FIFA World Cup, breaking the record held by Yassine Chikhaoui (19 years, 265 days) against Saudi Arabia on 14 June 2006.
Click here for EVEN MORE stats & facts about this fixture!
Sweden vs Tunisia prediction
In the play-offs, Graham Potter focused on Sweden playing on the counter-attack with their efficient and effective attackers, and that proved to work well for them. That does involve the opposition wanting and having the ball but the Tunisians, despite a slight development in their squad, remain a more reactive side and so that may not work too well for the Swedes. As a result, this may be a difficult encounter for the Swedish to find a breakthrough in. Backing a low-scoring encounter seems a decent bet for this one at Estadio BBVA.
Sweden vs Tunisia betting tip: Under 2.5 goals
