The Tunisian Football Federation has reportedly dismissed head coach Sabri Lamouchi after Tunisia’s disastrous start to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, following a crushing 5-1 defeat to Sweden in their opening Group F encounter.
The heavy loss has thrown the Carthage Eagles’ campaign into uncertainty and triggered swift action from federation officials, who are now seeking an immediate response ahead of the team’s remaining fixtures.
Tunisia arrived at the tournament with hopes of reaching the knockout stages, but those ambitions suffered a major setback after Sweden produced a dominant display that exposed serious weaknesses in Lamouchi’s side.
From the opening stages, the Scandinavian nation controlled the match with disciplined organisation, sharp attacking play and ruthless finishing, while Tunisia struggled defensively and paid dearly for repeated mistakes.
The humiliating result quickly intensified pressure on Lamouchi, with criticism mounting over his tactical approach and team selection after one of Tunisia’s worst defeats in World Cup history.
With little time available to rescue the campaign, the federation reportedly decided a managerial change was necessary in a bid to revive the team before their next group-stage matches.
Lamouchi’s exit brings a sudden conclusion to his spell in charge of the national team.
The former Ivory Coast and Nottingham Forest manager had been entrusted with leading Tunisia through a difficult World Cup group, but the disappointing defeat to Sweden ultimately sealed his fate.
Expectations surrounding the team had been high after an impressive qualification run, yet Tunisia’s inability to compete effectively against Sweden forced officials into decisive action.
The Carthage Eagles are still scheduled to face Japan and the Netherlands in their remaining Group F matches, although qualification now appears increasingly difficult.
Despite remaining mathematically in contention, Tunisia will likely need strong results in both fixtures to keep alive any realistic hopes of progressing to the knockout rounds.
The damaging scoreline against Sweden has also left Tunisia with a severely weakened goal difference, which could become a decisive factor later in the group standings.
Reports suggest the federation will appoint an interim manager ahead of the crucial clash against Japan.
Whoever assumes responsibility will inherit a squad struggling for confidence but still capable of responding positively if they can regroup quickly.
Tunisia’s players now face immense pressure to prove that the humiliating defeat was only a temporary collapse rather than an indication of the team’s overall quality.
For Lamouchi, however, the tournament has ended in painful fashion. After only one match, the French tactician has become the first managerial casualty of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Tunisia hoping that a new voice in the dressing room can inspire a dramatic revival.
