Sweden-Tunisia: Opening Battle in Group F

In the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group F opening match, Sweden and Tunisia face each other at Estadio BBVA in Monterrey, Mexico. Sweden under English head coach Graham Potter's management is going to their 13th World Cup adventure; the Scandinavian team that played in the 1958 final returned to the tournament after being eliminated in the last edition. Sweden completed their elimination journey by reaching the play-offs through the UEFA Nations League ranking and beating Ukraine and Poland back-to-back in March 2026. Viktor Gyökeres' goal in the 88th minute against Poland had carried Sweden to the World Cup. Tunisia is going to their 7th World Cup adventure in their history; the Eagles of Carthage under Sabri Lamouchi's management had qualified for the tournament by displaying a perfect defence without conceding a goal in 6 matches in the African qualifying campaign.

Sweden Predicted XI (3-4-1-2)

Goalkeeper: Viktor Johansson
Defence: Gustaf Lagerbielke - Isak Hien - Victor Lindelöf (C)
Midfield: Alexander Bernhardsson - Mattias Svanberg - Jesper Karlström - Gabriel Gudmundsson
Attacking 10: Anthony Elanga
Forward: Alexander Isak - Viktor Gyökeres

Tunisia Predicted XI (4-2-3-1)

Goalkeeper: Abdelmouhib Chamakh
Defence: Yan Valery - Montassar Talbi - Omar Rekik - Ali El Abdi
Midfield: Ellyes Skhiri - Khedira
Attack line: Elias Achouri - Hannibal Mejbri - Ismael Gharbi
Forward: Firas Chaouat

Sweden's most powerful weapon is the duo of Alexander Isak (Liverpool) and Viktor Gyökeres in the attacking line. These two star players, who also displayed the performance of goalscorers in their clubs, are shown as the most feared duo of the tournament. Anthony Elanga (Newcastle) will be behind the attacking line in the creative number 10 role. Graham Potter follows the health of left-back Gabriel Gudmundsson until the last moment; if he cannot overcome his illness, Daniel Svensson or Elliot Stroud may serve as an alternative. Due to the lack of natural-footed right-back, Holstein Kiel winger Alexander Bernhardsson may take the role on the opposite flank. On the Tunisia side, former Manchester United star Hannibal Mejbri, currently wearing the Burnley jersey, is expected to return to the starting lineup. Mejbri had remained in the substitute dressing room in the last warm-up match lost 5-0 to Belgium. Tunisia's 23-year-old playmaker will serve as the key name of the team's creativity. Ellyes Skhiri (Frankfurt) is the experienced name of midfield with 83 caps.

Image: si.com