From Dreaming of Representing Tunisia to Its Nightmare in the World Cup

Yasin Ayari stole the spotlight in Sweden's opening match of the 2026 World Cup, leading his team to a sweeping 5-1 victory over Tunisia, in a game that held special significance for the young star of Tunisian descent.

Reports revealed that Ayari initially leaned towards representing the Tunisian national team when he received an invitation to join the "Eagles of Carthage" in 2021. However, his father insisted on the choice of defending Sweden's colors, considering it the country that embraced the family and contributed to the development of his football career.

Years after that decision, the Swedish midfielder found himself facing the team of his roots on the world's biggest football stage, leaving a remarkable mark by scoring two goals in a match that ended with a significant Swedish victory.

Ayari opened the scoring early in the seventh minute, putting his national team on the right track towards victory, before returning in stoppage time of the second half to conclude the goal fest by scoring the fifth goal and his second personally.

Ayari's brace was one of the standout moments of the first round of the 2026 World Cup, especially since it came against the team he was close to representing a few years ago, giving the story an exceptional human and sporting dimension.