Ayari scores twice for Sweden against Tunisia, his father's homeland
Al Jazeera reported the Swedish midfielder marked his World Cup debut with two goals in a 5-1 win over Tunisia.
By Lucas Ferreira · Science & Environment Writer
2 min read
Yasin Ayari scored twice on his World Cup debut as Sweden opened its tournament with a 5-1 win over Tunisia, Al Jazeera reported. His restrained reaction to the first goal drew attention because Tunisia is the country of his father’s heritage.
Al Jazeera reported that the 22-year-old midfielder put Sweden ahead seven minutes into the match in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, with a volley into the top corner. Rather than launch into a full celebration, Ayari raised both hands and then went down in sujoud, a Muslim act of prostration, according to Al Jazeera.
Ayari was born in Sweden and has North African family roots, Al Jazeera reported. His father is Tunisian and his mother is Moroccan, which meant the game placed him against a national team he had been eligible to represent.
Why Ayari chose Sweden
Ayari decided at 18 to play for Sweden, the country of his birth, instead of representing either of his parents’ countries, Al Jazeera reported. His father, Azzouz Ayari, backed that choice.
“I wanted him to play for Sweden,” Azzouz Ayari told the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet, according to Al Jazeera. He added that his son should feel he was “giving back to the country that took care of him.”
Azzouz Ayari, who migrated to Sweden, told Aftonbladet that Tunisia had offered his son a place in its setup, Al Jazeera reported. He said neither he nor Yasin Ayari treated that offer as an option.
Yasin Ayari later said his choice to continue with Sweden felt “only natural” because he had represented the country as a youth player, according to Al Jazeera. After the 2026 World Cup draw placed Sweden and Tunisia in the same group, Ayari said it was “crazy” that the teams had been paired together, Al Jazeera reported.
From Solna to the Premier League
Ayari began playing football at age seven with Rasunda, his hometown club in Solna, Al Jazeera reported. He later joined AIK, one of Scandinavia’s prominent clubs, and made his senior debut there in 2020.
Brighton & Hove Albion signed Ayari in 2023, according to Al Jazeera. He also made his senior Sweden debut that year.
Against Tunisia, Al Jazeera described Ayari as Sweden’s standout player. After scoring early, he added Sweden’s fifth goal in the 95th minute, striking from the edge of the area into the far corner.
Ayari celebrated the second goal with Sweden teammates Anthony Elanga and Mattias Svanberg, according to Al Jazeera and an Associated Press photo caption. Al Jazeera reported that he accepted the applause from the Swedish supporters after completing his two-goal debut.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.