Tunisia’s Omar Rekik rose highest in the box and planted a header into the net just before halftime, pulling his side back to 2-1 against Sweden in their 2026 FIFA World Cup opener. It was the center-back’s first senior international goal, and it came at a moment when his team desperately needed a lifeline.
The goal arrived courtesy of a pinpoint cross from Hannibal Mejbri, who found Rekik unmarked in the area. The defender craned his neck, connected cleanly, and suddenly Tunisia had a pulse heading into the break.
From Arsenal academy to World Cup scorer
Rekik’s path to this moment has been anything but linear. The defender previously had ties to Arsenal, one of England’s biggest clubs, but his career trajectory eventually took him to Slovenian side Maribor, where he currently plays his club football.
Tunisia’s World Cup ambitions
