Sweden begin their 2026 World Cup campaign with a Group C clash against Tunisia at 3am (UK time) on Sunday.
This marks Sweden’s 13th appearance at the finals and their return to the tournament after missing out in 2022. Their most recent World Cup campaign ended in the quarter-finals, and they have consistently advanced beyond the group stage whenever they’ve qualified since 1990. However, their record also includes several notable qualification misses, having failed to reach the finals in 1998, 2010 and 2014.
Tunisia are competing at a third successive World Cup, equalling the longest run of appearances in their history. The North African side are featuring at the tournament for the seventh time overall but are still searching for a first trip beyond the group phase. To date, they have won just three of their 18 matches at the World Cup.
The nations have met four times previously. Sweden hold the overall advantage with two victories, while the other two encounters produced a draw and a Tunisia win. Tunisia’s sole success in the fixture came in 2003, ending a run of three matches without a victory against the Swedes.
Sweden get their 2026 World Cup campaign underway when they face Tunisia on Sunday at 3am (UK time)
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Sweden vs Tunisia team news
Sweden team news
Graham Potter has settled on a back three after taking charge of Sweden. And there’s no reason for him to change now. A lot of his positions pick themselves too, with Potter having clear favourites even after only six games in charge. Kristoffer Nordfeldt is the first-choice goalkeeper, playing three of Sweden’s four games this year. Viktor Lindelof missed the two pre-tournament friendlies but should return to the back three alongside Isak Hien and Gustaf Lagerbielke.
Gabriel Gudmundsson has the left wing-back role locked down, but there are some question marks over who will start on the right. Potter has used a few different players, with Herman Johansson a favourite. But Alexander Bernhardsson started the pre-tournament friendly against Greece which may point towards him starting this match. Yasin Ayari is an almost-certain starter in the midfield, while Jesper Karlstrom could partner him.
There could be a few different formations of the attack, but the players look set to be the same. Viktor Gyokeres and Alexander Isak have been used as a two-man strike partnership, rather than Potter starting one instead of the other. Benjamin Nygren has been the main supporting man under Potter, and there’s no reason for that to change. That means the likes of Lucas Bergvall, Anthony Elanga and Gustaf Nilsson will have to make do with bench roles.
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Tunisia team news
The big question for Tunisia will be whether Ismael Gharbi is able to play after his red card in the friendly defeat to Belgium. Gharbi’s suspension should only count for friendlies, so he will be available and ready to start. But he might not be in the No.10 role. That could go to Hannibal Mejbri, who has been a favourite in one of the attacking roles this year. Anis Ben Slimane would then appear on the left, with Hazem Mastouri leading the line.
At the other end of the pitch, Mouhib Chamkh hasn’t been a Tunisia player long. In fact, he’s only played three times for his country. But they have come in Tunisia’s past three matches, and he looks to have taken the No.1 spot for the World Cup. He’ll be well protected by the centre-back pairing of Montassar Takbi and Omar Rekik, with the latter also becoming a favourite of late.
Tunisia do have some options at right-back, but Adem Arous appears to have taken charge of the race to start against Sweden. Yan Valery is another possibilty. On the left, Ali Abdi looks to be Sabri Lamouchi’s first-choice, though he was rested in the defeat to Belgium. Ellyes Skhiri is Tunisia’s captain and will start as one of the double pivot. He’ll hardly get a rest at the World Cup. Rani Khedira looks most likely to partner him in the midfield.
Sweden vs Tunisia predicted lineups
Sweden (3-4-1-2): Nordfeldt; Lindelof, Lagerbielke, Hien; Bernardsson, Ayari, Karlstrom, Gudmundsson; Nygren; Isak, Gyokeres.
Tunisia (4-2-3-1): Chamakh; Arous, Talbi, Rekik, Abdi; Skhiri, Khedira; Gharbi, Hannibal, Ben Slimane; Mastouri.
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