World Cup 'is going to be fun' for Ayari

Main Club Sponsor

TICKETS

SHOP

Midfielder says Sweden can surprise in North America under a coach well known to Albion fans.

2026-06-13T22:30+01:00

Yasin Ayari insists Sweden are capable of making an impact in the World Cup finals

For Yasin Ayari, the memories are vivid. Gathered around the television with family and friends in 2010, a young Ayari watched Spain secure football’s ultimate prize with a dramatic extra-time winner.

It was his very first defining memory of a World Cup. Now, 16 years later, the Albion midfielder is no longer just a spectator. He is preparing to step onto the pitch himself.

“It’s a dream come true to play for your nation at the World Cup,” Ayari said, his excitement palpable as he looks ahead to the tournament. “It’s the biggest thing you can do.”

Sweden’s journey to the United States, Mexico, and Canada was anything but straightforward. The qualifying campaign was a tense process that forced the squad into high-stakes play-offs where they eventually got past Ukraine and Poland.

“It wasn’t the smoothest ride,” admits the 22-year-old.

“We had to dig deep to get there. But I think it got the group together - we had to stick together in the toughest times. In one way it was good to get the group together, but on the other hand, it would have been nice to qualify automatically!”

Central to navigating that turbulence was a familiar face for Albion fans in Sweden’s head coach Graham Potter, who was appointed at the end of 2025. Taking the reins during a chaotic period for the national team, Potter proved to be exactly what a fractured Swedish side needed to cross the finish line.

“He came in with a calmness, because at the time everything was so chaotic,” Ayari explains. “There was a real chance we wouldn’t make it. So he came in and made sure we believed in ourselves. The group came together and it paid off.”

Graham Potter took over as Sweden coach in 2025 and guided them to the World Cup through the play-offs.

Potter’s tactical approach with the national team has been heavily streamlined, adapting to the limited preparation time international football affords. “He lets us do the job on the pitch, not with so many instructions,” Ayari added. “With the national team, it’s different because they don’t have so much time to implement tactics - maybe two or three days. We know the good players that we have like (Viktor) Gyokeres and {Alexander) Isak.

When the draw for the group stage was made, Ayari couldn’t help but smile. Sweden have been grouped alongside Tunisia, the Netherlands, and Japan meaning Ayari will be going head-to-head with three of his teammates including Dutch trio Jan Paul van Hecke, Mats Wieffer and Bart Verbruggen, but not Kaoru Mitoma who misses Japan’s campaign because of injury.

“As soon as we knew we would be playing against each other, we were excited to play against each other on the biggest stage,” Ayari said. With so many Swedish players now plying their trade in the Premier League the element of surprise is gone, but the competitive edge remains sharp. “We know a lot about the other players and their qualities. It’ll be a big test, but I want to play there, I want to play against the best on the biggest stages. It’s going to be fun.”

Ayari is adamant that Sweden are not heading to North America just to make up the numbers. While some nations might be content with reaching the finals after a difficult qualifying run, Ayari is much more ambitious.

“From my side, I go there to win it, otherwise I would stay at home. I don’t want to just be a part of it, I want to go there and win as many games as possible.”

Whether the games are played in the United States, Mexico, or Canada, the venue matters little to the young midfielder. Ultimately, it boils down to the pride of wearing the yellow and blue jersey on a global stage..

“You’re not only representing yourself, you’re representing your country,” Ayari concludes. “It’ll be the first time for me, and it’s a huge honour. I am excited.”