Mattias Svanberg, 27-year-old midfielder for Sweden, came on as a substitute and scored at the 84-minute mark in Sweden's 5-1 victory over Tunisia. The goal came just 18 seconds after Svanberg entered the pitch, according to Opta data.
This marks the second-fastest goal scored by a substitute in World Cup history since 1966. The record-holder is Richard Morales of Uruguay, who scored 16 seconds after entering the pitch against Senegal (3-3 draw) in the 2002 World Cup group stage.
Sweden accumulated three points from their opening match and face the Netherlands on June 20 in Houston in their next group-stage fixture. Svanberg's immediate impact from the bench highlights the tactical importance of timely substitutions in tournament football.
Market impact: Sweden's substitute-led impact may reshape group-stage dynamics; bettors should monitor whether bench depth becomes a defining factor in advancing from the group or progressing deeper into the tournament.
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