It took just one game for Tunisia to realize it made a significant mistake in the 2026 World Cup. Following the team’s 5-1 defeat to Sweden to open the tournament, Tunisia is expected to fire manager Sabri Lamouchi before the team takes the pitch again, per ESPN.
Lamouchi was still employed as of Monday morning, though the Tunisian Football Federation (FA) gave an ominous quote when asked about Lamouchi’s status by ESPN.
“We have a problem with the coach,” was all that the Tunisian FA could share with ESPN on Monday, when asked for comment, with no official statement given about the fate of the former France international.
It was a disheartening loss for Tunisia in their opening game against Sweden. Yasin Ayari, whose father is Tunisian, scored two goals against the country in Sweden’s win. Sweden then added three additional goals, making it the country’s highest-scoring World Cup match since 1938.
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While Tunisia is just 0-1, the team’s four-goal loss puts it in a rough spot in the group stage. In order to advance to the Round of 32, a team needs to finish either first or second in that group with only the eight best third-place teams advancing from the 12 groups. In the instance of ties, goal difference plays a significant role in which teams advance. Even if Tunisia rallies and plays well in its remaining games, making up that four-goal difference may prove too tough moving forward.
Tunisia has a few days to sit with Sunday’s loss before taking on Japan. That match is scheduled for Sunday, giving the Tunisian FA multiple days to make a decision on Lamouchi.
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Lamouchi, a former player, has plenty of experience as a manager, holding that role with multiple teams since 2012.
With that said, he’s had a pretty rough go of it over the past year and a half. Lamouchi was fired by Al-Riyadh in April of 2025 and then fired by Al-Diriyah in December of that same year.
If he’s fired by Tunisia ahead of the team’s next game, it would make the third time in a little over a year Lamouchi has lost his job.
This story will be updated.
