Tunisia's FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign has descended into chaos almost as quickly as it began. Just days after a crushing defeat to Sweden, reports suggest the Tunisian Football Federation has decided to part ways with head coach Sabri Lamouchi after only one match at the tournament.
While an official confirmation is still awaited, multiple reports indicate that an emergency meeting was held shortly after the humiliating 5-1 loss, leading to a decision that underlines the growing frustration within the federation.
The move would make Lamouchi one of the shortest-serving managers of the tournament and further expose the instability surrounding the Tunisian setup.
A short tenure that never gathered momentum
According to Livemint, Lamouchi only took charge in January following the departure of Sami Trabelsi after Tunisia's Africa Cup of Nations exit.
The appointment was initially viewed as an opportunity to rebuild the side ahead of football's biggest stage. However, results never quite convinced supporters or federation officials.
Tunisia began positively with a victory over Haiti and a draw against Canada before things rapidly deteriorated. Consecutive defeats to Austria, Belgium and now Sweden intensified scrutiny around Lamouchi's leadership.
In total, he managed just five matches, an astonishingly brief spell for a coach entrusted with guiding a nation through a World Cup campaign.
Also Read | Germany leapfrog Brazil to become World Cup's most prolific team ever
Off-field distractions complicated preparations
Tunisia's problems were not confined to performances on the pitch.
According to Livemint, preparations were disrupted by controversy surrounding Lamouchi's son, whose presence around the training camp reportedly became a source of tension within the setup.
The issue repeatedly forced Lamouchi to defend himself publicly and added unnecessary distractions during a period when focus should have remained solely on the tournament.
By the time Tunisia arrived for their opening fixture, the atmosphere surrounding the squad had already become uneasy.
The heavy defeat to Sweden appears to have been the final straw for federation officials.
Also Read | FIFA World Cup 2026: Debutants Cabo Verde stun Spain with historic goalless draw
Sweden's attackers repeatedly exploited Tunisia's defensive vulnerabilities, exposing the gulf (fifa.com) Knockout hopes now hanging by a thread
The manner of Tunisia's defeat further amplified concerns.
Goalkeeping mistakes and defensive errors gifted Sweden several opportunities, while Tunisia struggled to recover after falling behind.
Goalkeeper Mouhib Chamakh was blamed for the opening goal, while captain Ellyes Skhiri's error directly contributed to another strike.
Sweden's attackers repeatedly exploited Tunisia's defensive vulnerabilities, exposing the gulf
