Tunisia have sacked head coach Sabri Lamouchi with immediate effect after the Carthage Eagles suffered a humiliating 5-1 defeat to Sweden in their opening Group F match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The heavy loss, which saw Sweden dominate from start to finish with goals from Yasin Ayari (brace), Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyökeres, and Mattias Svanberg, exposed serious defensive frailties and tactical shortcomings in the Tunisian setup.
Just hours after the final whistle in Monterrey, the Tunisian Football Federation made the drastic decision to part ways with Lamouchi, who had only been in charge since January and had struggled for results even before the tournament.
Reports indicate internal tensions boiled over in the dressing room, including reported altercations, prompting an emergency meeting that led to his dismissal — making him the first manager to be fired after just one game at this World Cup.
Wahbi Khazri is expected to step in as interim coach for Tunisia’s remaining group fixtures against Japan and the Netherlands as the team fights for an unlikely path to the knockout stages.
The swift move underscores the immense pressure on African sides at major tournaments and the unforgiving nature of results in the World Cup spotlight.