Tunisia Dismisses Head Coach After 5‑1 World Cup Defeat

Tue Jun 16 2026 12:55:10 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Tunisia’s national team fired coach Sabri Lamouchi after a humiliating loss to Sweden in their opening game of the 2026 World Cup, marking the first time a manager has been sacked after a single match.

In a shock move, the Tunisian Football Association terminated head coach Sabri Lamouchi following a 5‑1 drubbing by Sweden in their Group F opener at Estadio Monterrey, Mexico. Sources confirm Lamouchi remained at training on Monday before the decision was finalized. The Frenchman’s contract was ended by mutual agreement, and former Morocco/Austria manager Herve Renard will take over until the tournament’s end. The sacking makes Lamouchi the first manager in World Cup history to lose his job after just one match.

Tunisia Dismisses Head Coach After 5-1 World Cup Defeat

The Tunisian national team stopped coach Sabri Lamouchi after a 5‑1 loss to Sweden in their first match of the 2026 World Cup, a decision that makes Lamouchi the first manager in tournament history to be sacked after a single game.

The Aftermath

The Tunisian Football Association confirmed that Lamouchi, who was appointed in January, had its contract terminated by mutual agreement. The 54‑year‑old said the game was "painful" and that "we made too many mistakes" that damaged the team’s chances.

Former Morocco and Saudi Arabia manager Herve Renard was appointed as interim head coach until the end of the tournament, stepping in after the dismissal.

Historical Context

Lamouchi’s dismissal marks the first time a national team coach has been ousted after just one World Cup match. Similar moves saw Henryk Kasperczak leave Tunisia during the 1998 tournament, and South Korea’s Cha Bum‑k"un after two initial defeats in their 1998 campaign.

The Tunisian side entered this tournament after having lost 1‑0 to Austria and 5‑0 to Belgium in warm‑up matches, despite a 1‑0 win over Haiti under Lamouchi’s first game in charge.

Looking Ahead

Tunisia will face Japan and the Netherlands in their next two Group F fixtures. The new interim coach will aim to reverse the early setback as the tournament continues in Mexico.