​Tunisia Sacks Sabri Lamouchi Mid-World Cup After Heavy Opening Defeat

Tunisia have made a shocking managerial change during the 2026 FIFA World Cup after deciding to part ways with head coach Sabri Lamouchi following a heavy 1-5 defeat to Sweden in their opening Group F match. The decision came shortly after the match in Monterrey, reflecting the federation’s urgent response to the team’s poor start in the tournament.
The Tunisian Football Federation moved quickly to stabilize the situation by appointing Mondher Kebaier as interim head coach for the remainder of the group stage. The leadership change was officially communicated through the federation’s public channels, signaling an immediate shift in direction as the team tries to recover its campaign.
Lamouchi’s dismissal was not entirely unexpected, as pressure had been building around him even before the World Cup began. A recent 0-5 loss to Belgium in a pre-tournament friendly had already raised concerns about the team’s form and readiness for elite competition, weakening confidence in his leadership.
Since taking charge in January 2026, Lamouchi’s tenure had been brief and inconsistent, featuring only a handful of matches and a single victory against Haiti. Despite his previous experience in international tournaments, including leading Ivory Coast at the 2014 World Cup, his second World Cup coaching stint ended abruptly due to Tunisia’s poor performances.
With two matches remaining in the group stage against Japan and the Netherlands, Tunisia now faces a difficult challenge to stay alive in the competition. The team must quickly adapt under interim management if it hopes to keep its qualification hopes for the knockout rounds intact.