Tunisia Sack Head Coach After Heavy World Cup Defeat, Appoint Hervé Renard

TUNIS:** Tunisia have dismissed head coach Sabri Lamouchi following the team’s disappointing start to the FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign, the Tunisian Football Federation announced on Tuesday.

The decision comes after Tunisia suffered a crushing 5-1 defeat against Sweden in their opening World Cup match on Sunday, a result that intensified pressure on the coaching staff.

Lamouchi, a former France international who earned 12 caps for his national team, was appointed Tunisia’s head coach in January on a two-year contract. However, his tenure proved unsuccessful, with the team managing only one victory in five matches under his leadership.

Tunisia’s sole win came in March with a 1-0 victory over Haiti, while the team also endured defeats in pre-World Cup warm-up matches against Austria and Belgium.

The federation confirmed that experienced French coach Hervé Renard has been appointed as the new head coach for the remainder of Tunisia’s World Cup campaign.

According to the federation, discussions regarding a long-term contract will take place after the tournament, with any future agreement dependent on the team’s performance under Renard’s guidance.

The federation stated that the arrangement allows both parties to evaluate the possibility of a longer-term partnership once the World Cup concludes.

Reports indicate that Renard is expected to arrive in Monterrey shortly to join the squad and begin preparations for Tunisia’s crucial upcoming group-stage match against Japan.

Tunisia now face a difficult challenge to revive their World Cup hopes after the heavy opening defeat, with their next match likely to be decisive in determining their chances of progressing to the knockout stage.