Tunisia fires coach Lamouchi after 5-1 World Cup loss to Sweden.

Tunisia has officially dismissed its head coach, Sabri Lamouchi, following a devastating 5-1 loss to Sweden in the opening match of Group F at the 2026 World Cup. The termination occurred the day after the match concluded on Sunday night in Monterrey, Mexico, marking Lamouchi's departure after a single tournament game.

The 54-year-old former international for France was removed from his position immediately after the trouncing. In his statement prior to leaving, Lamouchi acknowledged the severity of the situation, describing the defeat as painful and difficult to endure at the start of the competition. He admitted that his team had made "way too many mistakes," noting that they were punished for a string of costly errors. This decision comes despite Lamouchi's earlier admission that the squad needed to regain its pride and react strongly to avoid giving a poor image of the nation.

Tunisian football authorities have appointed Mondher Kebaier as the interim manager. Kebaier, 56, previously served as head coach of the national team, known as the Eagles of Carthage, from 2019 to 2022 and has held a technical director role since last year. His interim appointment ensures continuity ahead of the team's next fixture against Japan, scheduled for the early hours of Sunday in Monterrey. Kebaier's resume includes leading Tunisia to the final of the 2021 Arab Cup, where they lost to Algeria, and a quarterfinal appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations the following year.

The team faces a challenging path forward, with upcoming matches against Japan and the Netherlands. The Dutch side secured a 2-2 draw against Australia in Dallas earlier on Sunday. Lamouchi's tenure was already strained by pressure following a 5-0 preliminary defeat to Belgium. Additionally, he faced scrutiny regarding the inclusion of his son in the training camp, even though the player was not officially part of the squad.

Lamouchi, who holds dual Tunisian and French citizenship, had a distinguished playing career with clubs such as Monaco, Inter, Marseille, Parma, and Auxerre. His management career began with the Ivory Coast team, which he led to a group stage exit at the 2014 World Cup after a win over Japan and a dramatic loss to Greece. He previously managed clubs in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Cardiff City, and Nottingham Forest. This dismissal represents another heartbreak in his World Cup journey, echoing his exclusion from the final France squad for the 1998 tournament, where the national team secured their first title on home soil. Lamouchi was hired by Tunisia in January on a two-and-a-half-year contract following a disappointing performance at the Africa Cup of Nations.