Tunisia sacked Sabri Lamouchi barely 48 hours after its 5-1 defeat to Sweden in the opening game of the 2026 World Cup, replacing him with Herve Renard before the team had played its next World Cup match. The move ended Lamouchi’s five-month spell in charge just as Tunisia’s group stage was only beginning.
The dismissal mattered immediately because Tunisia still had Japan and the Netherlands to play, which meant the team was not out of the tournament after one loss. In a group that already looked unforgiving, the coaching change turned the opening defeat into a crisis about direction, not just the scoreline.
Lamouchi had arrived in January to replace Sami Trabelsi after a disappointing Africa Cup of Nations, and his first run as coach had already swung between promise and warning signs. Tunisia beat Haiti in his first game, drew 0-0 with Canada and lost 1-0 to Austria, then finished its buildup with a 5-0 loss to Belgium before the World Cup began.
That made his comments on the eve of the Sweden match sound even starker in hindsight. He said he could not complain, that he was there to enjoy the tournament and not dwell on the past or the future. After the loss, he called it painful, said Tunisia made too many mistakes and urged his side to react and give a better image.
The friction was obvious. Lamouchi spoke of enjoying the World Cup, yet Tunisia acted as if there was no room to breathe after one game, even though the team had more group matches left. The speed of the decision also underlined how thin his margin had become after leaving out captain Ferjani Sassi and defender Yassine Meriah from the squad, a choice that had already ruffled feathers around the team.
Omar Rekik captured the mood inside the camp after the Sweden defeat. He apologized to the Tunisian people, said the team needed to look itself in the mirror and called “10 goals in two games” crazy. His words pointed to the larger problem Tunisia now faces: whether Renard can steady the side quickly enough to make the remaining matches against Japan and the Netherlands matter.
