Tunisia fired Sabri Lamouchi after the 5-1 humiliation vs Sweden in the World Cup 2026
Just one game into the campaign, Tunisia has fired head coach Sabri Lamouchi after being beaten 5-1 by Sweden in their opening match in Group F of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Tunisia have decided to sack head coach Sabri Lamouchi just one game into their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign, following a heavy 5-1 loss to Sweden in their opening Group F match on Sunday.
Sweden's offense crushed the North Africans' defense, which was largely tied for 90 minutes. The 5-1 score was among Tunisia's heaviest defeats in their World Cup history, prompting the federation to take immediate action.
Adding to the painful narrative on the pitch, Yasin Ayari scored a goal—against the country where his father was born—that further sank Tunisia. Aside from the result, it was also reported that there had been tension in the dressing room for a long time, something that allegedly worsened the situation under Lamouchi.
<figure style="margin:2rem 0;overflow:hidden;border:1px solid #e2e2e2;background:#f9f9f9"><img src="https://a57.foxsports.com/statics.foxsports.com/www.foxsports.com/content/uploads/2026/06/1408/814/tunisia-manager.jpg?ve=1&tl=1" alt="Image" style="width:100%;height:auto;object-fit:contain" loading="lazy" /></figure>Lamouchi's tenure ended after just five matches in all competitions, and was deemed unable to repair the disharmony between the coaching staff and the players in the weight of the world stage.
Looking ahead, Tunisia are expected to look to a familiar face to solidify the team's direction. Mondher Kebaier is the leading candidate for the interim role, while the possibility of signing former Sunderland and Tunisia star Wahbi Khazri as a replacement has also been floated.
With this move, Tunisia struck an unsavory note: Lamouchi became the first coach to be officially sacked while the World Cup 2026 is underway. The federation chose to act before the second group match as the current leadership saw nowhere to go.
Tunisia's road won't be easy: they next face Japan on June 20 before finishing the group stage against the Netherlands.
