Tunisia have officially dismissed head coach Sabri Lamouchi following their humiliating 5-1 defeat to Sweden in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The decision makes Lamouchi the first manager to lose his job during the tournament, with the Tunisian Football Federation acting less than 24 hours after the heavy defeat in Group F.
According to reports, the federation’s decision was influenced not only by the result itself but also by growing tensions within the dressing room.
Lamouchi’s Short-Lived Reign Ends
Lamouchi was appointed Tunisia head coach in January 2026 after the dismissal of Sami Trabelsi following the Africa Cup of Nations.
However, his tenure lasted just five months and came to an abrupt end after Tunisia’s disastrous start to the World Cup.
The former Ivory Coast, Rennes and Nottingham Forest manager was brought in to guide the Carthage Eagles through the tournament, but the federation quickly lost confidence following the team’s heaviest World Cup defeat in decades.
Sabri Lamouchi At Tunisia
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Appointed | January 2026 |
| Dismissed | June 2026 |
| Time In Charge | Approximately 5 months |
| Final Match | Sweden 5-1 Tunisia |
| Reason For Exit | Poor result and reported dressing-room issues |
Sweden Hand Tunisia A Heavy Blow
Tunisia entered the tournament with optimism after an impressive qualifying campaign, but Sweden exposed major weaknesses in their opening fixture.
Yasin Ayari opened the scoring inside six minutes before Alexander Isak doubled Sweden’s advantage. Tunisia briefly responded through Omar Rekik before Viktor Gyökeres restored Sweden’s two-goal cushion after the break.
Substitute Mattias Svanberg added a fourth before Ayari completed the rout deep into stoppage time.
Sweden 5-1 Tunisia
| Scorer | Minute |
|---|---|
| Yasin Ayari (Sweden) | 6′ |
| Alexander Isak (Sweden) | 30′ |
| Omar Rekik (Tunisia) | 43′ |
| Viktor Gyökeres (Sweden) | 59′ |
| Mattias Svanberg (Sweden) | 84′ |
| Yasin Ayari (Sweden) | 90+6′ |
The defeat leaves Tunisia bottom of Group F with a goal difference of minus four after the opening round of matches.
Mondher Kebaier Set To Return
Former Tunisia manager Mondher Kebaier is expected to take charge on an interim basis for the remainder of the tournament.
Kebaier previously managed the national team between 2019 and 2022 and is already with the Tunisian delegation, allowing for an immediate transition ahead of their next match.
The federation hopes the coaching change can provide a quick response as Tunisia attempt to revive their World Cup campaign.
A Must-Win Match Against Japan
Tunisia now face enormous pressure heading into their second group-stage match against Japan.
With Sweden already on three points and the Netherlands drawing 2-2 with Japan in the other Group F fixture, another defeat would almost certainly end Tunisia’s hopes of reaching the knockout rounds.
The expanded 48-team World Cup format offers additional routes to qualification through the best third-placed teams, but Tunisia’s heavy defeat has significantly damaged their goal difference.
Group F Standings
| Team | Points | Goal Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Sweden | 3 | +4 |
| Netherlands | 1 | 0 |
| Japan | 1 | 0 |
| Tunisia | 0 | -4 |
A Desperate Gamble
The decision to sack a manager during the World Cup underlines the severity of Tunisia’s concerns after just one match.
Lamouchi arrived with hopes of leading the Carthage Eagles beyond the group stage for the first time in their history. Instead, his tenure ended after a single World Cup game.
Now the focus shifts to Kebaier and whether he can inspire an immediate turnaround before Tunisia face Japan in a must-win clash.
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