Sweden midfielder Yasin Ayari scores vs Tunisia, declines celebration

Swedish midfielder Yasin Ayari, 22, opened Sweden’s World Cup 2026 campaign with a seventh‑minute strike against Tunisia in Monterrey, Mexico. The Brighton player rang the opening goal but refrained from celebrating, raising his hands and asking the Tunisian crowd for forgiveness. He cited respect for his father’s Tunisian heritage, noting that his father Azzouz Ayari had urged him to represent Sweden rather than Tunisia. "My son wanted to choose Tunisia, but I asked him to play for Sweden because it is the country that welcomed and developed him," the father told Swedish media. Tunisia’s coach Sabri Lamouchi acknowledged the gesture, saying he respects Ayari’s choice. Sweden went on to win the match, with Alexander Isak adding a second goal. Ayari’s restraint highlights the personal dilemmas faced by players with multicultural backgrounds in international tournaments, where 258 of the 2026 World Cup squads were born outside the countries they represent.