Coupe du monde 2026: pourquoi Yasin Ayari n'a pas célébré son premier but avec la Suède contre la Tunisie
The first Swedish goalscorer in this 2026 World Cup, Yasin Ayari, chose not to celebrate his splendid goal on Sunday evening against Tunisia (5-1) out of respect for his father's country of origin.
His goal gave Sweden a superb start to their 2026 World Cup campaign. And yet, unlike the thousands of Blue and Yellow supporters in the stands of the Monterrey stadium in Mexico, Yasin Ayari didn't let his joy explode. The Brighton midfielder, who scored the first goal in Sweden's 5-1 thrashing of Tunisia on Sunday night, chose not to celebrate his powerful shot into the top corner in the 7th minute of his first World Cup match.
The reason: to show respect for his father's country of origin. Born to a Tunisian father and a Moroccan mother in Solna, a suburb of Stockholm, the 23-year-old has progressed through all the youth ranks of Sweden, from under-16s to the senior team since January 2023.
"It's difficult to describe such a feeling."
But Yasin Ayari could have worn a different jersey in Group F, as Tunisia approached him a few months before the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. An offer he declined, according to his father. "He said no. He was so firm," Azzouz Ayari told Swedish television in May. "I told him he had to listen to his gut, whatever he wanted. My children are Swedish. They were born in Sweden. I want him to play for Sweden. He needs to feel he's giving back to the country that raised him so well."
These statements were later confirmed by the person in question. "They spoke to me and asked me a few questions. But I've been playing for Sweden in other national teams since I was very young. So it was only natural to continue," he assured.
There's no doubt now that Graham Potter will be counting on him for the rest of the tournament. Especially after his second goal in the dying moments of the match, sealing a superb start for the Swedes. This time, he celebrated his goal properly with his teammates and compatriots, all dressed in yellow in the stands. "A lot has happened in the last few weeks," the new father told SVT after the match. "I want to thank God for everything that's happened to me. I'm so grateful. It's hard to describe this feeling."
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