Tunisia fired manager Sabri Lamouchi on Monday after a 5-1 opening loss to Sweden at the 2026 FIFA World Cup – a result that leaves the Eagles of Carthage in a precarious position heading into their remaining group stage matches against Japan and the Netherlands.
It’s a stunning development, even by World Cup standards.
Tunisia is appearing in its seventh World Cup this summer, and third consecutive. They’ve never advanced past the group stage in any of their previous six appearances. With the expanded 48-team format sending 32 sides through to the knockout round, expectations had shifted heading into the tournament – but not enough to survive a five-goal drubbing in the opening match.
No replacement has been named, and Tunisia’s next game against Japan is just six days away.
Lamouchi’s Long History With World Cup Heartbreak
Lamouchi’s connection to the World Cup is a complicated one. Born in Lyon to Tunisian parents, he was among the last players cut from France’s 1998 squad – the team that went on to lift the trophy on home soil. Years later, as a manager, he guided Ivory Coast into the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, only to watch them exit in the group stage.
Tunisia was his latest attempt to write a different ending to that story.
The Tunisian Football Federation was tight-lipped about the decision Monday, offering only that
“We have a problem with the coach.”
according to ESPN.
Independent journalist Matteo Trabelsi painted a clearer picture, citing “Lamouchi’s behavior in the locker room and his weak ability to rally the team” as central issues within the squad. Trabelsi, who along with colleague Romain Molina had previously reported on tensions inside the Tunisian dressing room, added pointedly:
“We were accused of lying to destabilize the group. Result: fired after the first group stage match. Bravo coach, it must be the journalists’ fault.”
Whether the coaching change is enough to turn things around remains to be seen – Tunisia’s path to the knockout round was already narrow before kickoff Monday, and it’s considerably narrower now.